Becoming More Like Jesus: GenerositySample

Simplicity Brings Freedom and With It Generosity

Taking a closer look at today's culture, both outside and inside of the Church, it would be reasonable for you and I to conclude the following:

Simplicity is out, and a lifestyle of extravagance is in.

Busyness is a sign of importance, while the pursuit of margin is often seen as a symbol of weakness.

But what is all of this extravagance and busyness doing to the condition of our hearts? How is it impacting our ability to be generous with our time, talent, and treasure? And are we becoming more or less like Jesus?

Now more than ever, if we are to become more like Jesus in the area of generosity, we desperately need to revive the ancient practice of simplicity. Adele Ahlberg Calhoun said this about simplicity and its connection to cultivating a heart of generosity, "Simplicity brings freedom and with it generosity... Simplicity creates margins, spaces, and openness in our lives. It honors the resources of our small planet. It offers us the leisure of tasting the present moment."

Without margin, we lack the capacity to give our time, talents, and treasure from the reservoir of our hearts. Margin is the necessary space in our week that prevents our growing list of priorities from crashing into each other on the highway of life. Adopting a lifestyle of simplicity creates space and time for radical generosity, manifesting itself in everyday opportunities to step into hospitality and mentoring.

In the book of Acts, the early Church routinely models Jesus' example of hospitality. Acts 2:46 tells us, "Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts." In your current season of life, what would it look like for you to slow down your pace to make room in your schedule to regularly break bread with friends, family, neighbors, and even maybe an enemy or two?

The practice of mentoring, much like hospitality, requires a lifestyle of simplicity to bear good fruit. The Apostle Paul mentored Timothy, his "beloved and faithful child in the Lord." Then he sent him to the Church at Corinth to remind them of the ways of Jesus (See 1 Corinthians 4:17). Today, more than ever; we need apprentices of Jesus in all walks of life to model the Good News of the Gospel message to the next generation.

As you go, take a few minutes to consider how the practice of simplicity might create the necessary margin in your life, allowing you to be generous with your time, talents, and treasure as God leads you in the areas of hospitality and mentoring.