40acts: The Lent Generosity ChallengeSample

In a society bogged down in consumerism, inflation and maybe a small amount of pride in the work we put in to own that item, it can be difficult to release the grip that we have on what we consider ‘our stuff’. The reality is God owns everything and we are blessed to have all that we do. Using our material possessions as an act of worship is a common theme in the Bible: verses about tithing, to the story of the widow who gave everything she could, to the Corinthian church giving to a community of people they had never met.

Did Mary have to break the jar to pour such an expensive perfume out? Surely she could have just opened it and poured out a little bit. 

Yes, Mary could have kept some perfume for herself, but instead, she used it all as a generous gift for Jesus. She had no idea that this simple change in perspective was going to be remembered ‘wherever the gospel is preached’ (Mark 14:9).

Not long after I passed my driving test, I got Lisa: an 11-year-old Nissan Micra. Like most 18-year-olds, I had been dreaming of this day since I first laid eyes on my provisional licence. 

Most people wouldn’t ask for a car like Lisa. But, when it was time to say goodbye, I was shocked at the number of people who were sad to see her go! 

As it turned out, I didn’t end up spending that much time driving around in my car, doing whatever I wanted. Instead, every Friday Lisa and I would drive young people home from whatever food spot we had ended up in after youth. Every winter, Lisa would carry a group of us to a youth leader’s weekend away somewhere. And more often than not, Lisa would be there to transport my mentees and me to a coffee shop somewhere so that I could talk, pray with or encourage someone through a difficult season. 

Lisa ended up serving a way bigger purpose than just my convenience; she was a real blessing to the people around me.

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How often do we see material giving as simply monetary rather than belongings we hold dear to ourselves?

Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog:   

https://40acts.org.uk/act-10-drop-everything/