“The antidote to the poison of greed is generosity, says Paul in his letter to the Christians of Philippi caught in a downward spiral of “selfish ambition or vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3). Paul challenges the Christians to get into the mind of Jesus, an incredibly generous Jesus…
Jesus gave up the comforts and joys of triune eternal companionship to enter into the messiness of living with sinful, broken humanity—the hypocrisy, violence, sickness and greed. Jesus came to share a new vision for living with humility, compassion and mercy.
Jesus demonstrated His generosity by getting involved in making things right here on earth. Wherever Jesus encountered human need, people received more than they hoped for. The disabled paraplegic received restored mobility and a relationship with God. The hemorrhaging woman was healed in body and restored to dignity in community. Jesus did more than expected…
Jesus lived generosity in His incarnation, His ministry and His death. Paul says, Let this generosity of Jesus soak into your mind and permeate your worldview. Let it transform your selfish and greedy behavior. Be generous like Jesus was generous (Philippians 2:1-11).”
Clarence Rempel in “The Generosity of Jesus” in The Mennonite: A monthly magazine for members of Mennonite Church USA, 17 March 2009.
Visiting the destitute in the shantytowns of the garbage dump in Guatemala gives my family a glimpse of what Jesus did when he left the comforts and joys of heaven to enter the messiness of earth.
He did not send help, but became help for us. He made things right and always did more than expected. This is yet another reason why we love serving here…because when we do, we imitate the generosity of Jesus.