Generousity

It was our weekly tradition, however we have been thinking of changing things up by having a topic of discussion over date night. If there is one thing people look out for moving towards the end of the year, it is how the government plans to allocate their financial resources. God has resources too and the topic of the week, God’s Generosity. The premise is simple – God is a gracious host that created everything on earth for us to enjoy. But if this is the case, why is there wars, fights and famine. It was a very thought provoking to reflect on my actions.

I would like to think that I am in general a generous person, I suppose most people would like to think of themselves as one. When we support the road side kakak’s small business or if we buy a drink for the uncle that goes from table to table in a mamak asking for spare change – does that make me generous? How does my being generous line up with God’s generosity?

EDEN & THE WILDERNESS – God’s Stimulus Package 

My own ideas about God’s generosity revolved around that God is a provider. My know God to be Jehovah Jireh, He provides. What does He provide exactly? Things that we need for survival. I have never found myself in need at all in life except once and even in that time, God provided. However after hearing more about the Genesis story, Abraham and also the Children of Israel with Moses,  the theme of God being generous goes beyond what I was thinking of just enough for survival but rather there is abundance that is overflowing. 

Let’s start with the first example the garden of Eden and what we can observe from it. God created the earth to be fully capable to sustain itself with diverse plantation flourishing and animals roaming about. There was an abundance of food and water for Adam and Eve to have all they needed. It would be similar if you ever attended a open house at your uncle’s house for christmas, chinese new year, raya or deepavali. They are a generous host by making sure that there is plenty of food available for all the guest that come. God is very much like this by providing more than enough for all. He also commanded for them to be fruitful and multiply, hence we have every reason to believe Eden was capable to sustain their offsprings too.

But this is so far from the present where we find ourselves in the midst of a world which feels like there is just not enough to go around. Based on God’s original design, this can’t be caused by the lack of resources but because this world of abundance is populated with selfish humans who are unable to trust God as a generous host. Instead of caring for the earth and people, we end up hoarding and caring for only ourselves. 

We see this very thing happen when God gave the Israelites the promised land as long as they follow His commandments and His guidance. A perfect example as Vanessa added on to this, God gave them manna from heaven  when they were still in the wilderness and there was enough for everyone. If people were to collect more than that day’s worth, it would not keep the following day. This was to let the people know that their God was a daily provider despite where they were, and there was more than enough for all. 

JESUS – God’s Biggest Expenditure

And the last great example we can bring is found in John 3:16. The evidence of God loving the world lies in His not withholding but giving His only begotten son. Jesus lived with a mindset of abundance and to live generously that is why He could say things like not to worry about your life (Matthew 6:25-27) and also to the rich young ruler to sell your possessions and give it to the poor (Matthew 19:21). With this in mind, the greatest takeaway would be when we are blessed with finances, time and ability we should respond like how Jesus did. We should be generous enough to give from the abundance that we have and are blessed with. 

Till next time, please enjoy this generous photo as a gift of what we enjoyed that night.