Living GenerouslySample

Generous With Comfort

We often would rather feel safe and at ease than stretched and uncomfortable, but Jesus made Himself cosmically uncomfortable for our sakes. He calls us to be generous with our comfort too, for the good of those He’s given us to love. Part of the challenge of leading a generous life is that it takes us out of our comfort zone in so many ways. We’ve less for ourselves if we give more to others. We have to forego things we want so others can have things they need, or things that bring them joy. But the wondrous thing about generosity is we’ll never regret giving.

When Mary anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair, she’s down in the dust and dirt. She willingly takes on the uncomfortable, unpleasant position of a servant so she can lavish her love on Jesus. Perhaps she doesn’t get it at the time, but very soon Jesus will make the ultimate sacrifice of comfort for Mary, giving up His life.

Jesus has just washed His disciples’ feet and told them His body will be given for them – but they don’t get it. They start arguing over who will be named the GOAT Disciple (Luke 22:24). Jesus responds by reiterating the upside-down Kingdom message He’s been preaching and modelling throughout His ministry: the least shall be greatest, the last shall be first (Luke 22:25-30, Matthew 20:24-28). If there are areas of your life in which you’d love to be first and greatest, think about what it would look like to flip the script. How is God challenging you to reimagine your goals and pursuits, forgoing the status or comfort you’re chasing for the sake of someone else? How is God already using you to channel His comfort to someone in need?

Mary graphically illustrated the notion of being generous with comfort. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He did the same. Generosity needs to be seen and felt if people are to understand it and be changed by it. That means it’s important for us to take the idea of being generous with our comfort out of the philosophical, conceptual realm and into our practical, lived experience.

We’re not called to be a holy huddle, reminding each other how right we are. We’re called to be a missional people who live generously. That means we need to step outside of our mental and physical comfort zones to bring the love of God to people He’s given us to serve. This leads us to discover His love too. May we be generous with our own comfort, willing to sacrifice it so others can be cared for. The way Mary so generously gave of herself – her time, attention, wealth, talent, possessions, comfort, and people’s perceptions of her – is an inspiring example and encouragement to us today. May we also come closer to the generous God who created us and who promises to help us live ever more generous lives.