Cultivate a Life of ImpactSample

CULTIVATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION

We each have the choice of being either a giver or a taker. Givers are generous with others - people who live with God’s priorities in mind. There is something truly glorious about discovering the selfless life. As believers we are called to live beyond ourselves, to have someone other than ourselves as the center of our affections and actions. As we embrace a posture of selflessness and generosity, we bring the redemptive nature of the kingdom to our homes, churches, communities, and cities. We can only extend God’s grace to a broken world when we choose to live a sacrificial life.

2 Corinthians 8:9 reminds us of the life Jesus chose to live –

‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.’

Generosity has a ripple effect in our world. When we are generous, it touches our families, our workplace, and our community. Jesus desires for us to live in this way, He challenged people to live in this way. Mark 10:21 tells the story of the rich young ruler. Acts tells the story of the early church in Jerusalem that decided to generously share the little they had so that no one would be without. Sometimes we will be challenged to make great sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom. At other times it will be small, everyday deeds of love, compassion, and blessing. In this way, we could transform our culture. Jesus demonstrated a life marked by giving, not getting.

Ephesians 5:25-28 in the Message puts it this way:

‘Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already “one” in marriage.’

Jesus demonstrated a life of generosity, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. His life was marked by constantly giving to those who could not reciprocate the blessing. He gave freely of His time to children, the marginalized, devalued women, people with leprosy, the blind, and the lame.

Paul gives us this principle on giving in 2 Corinthians 9:7

‘Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’

Two questions to ask yourself today –

1. Are you a giver or a taker?
2. What have you discovered today regarding God’s thoughts on generosity?

Our prayer –

Father God, thank You for all You have done for us. Make us cheerful givers. May we live generous lives - as the Holy Spirit empowers us - to those around us.