Contentment – Generosity

Contentment – Generosity

Reading: Luke 3:10-14; Luke 21:1-4 1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1-4 NLT) It’s so easy to think of generosity as something that only wealthy people do, or as something that we do when we’ve got some money left over at the end of the month, or even something we get pressured into by a high-pressure appeal to give to a worthy cause or an emotional appeal to help someone in trouble. I remember riding with my friend in his minivan in 1987 in Atlanta. He said, “When I get some money, I feel if I don’t use it, I won’t get any more.” I immediately thought, “When I get money, I feel if I don’t hang on to it and use it just right, I won’t get any more.” I had never heard the terms “Scarcity Mentality” or “Abundance Mentality”, but those two statements became both the definition and the description of two very different ways of thinking, of looking at life, especially of looking at money! Scarcity Thinking says, “If only I had a little more, I could…”; “I’ll never be able to make a difference because I have so little!”; “I only have a little and when it’s gone there won’t be any more.” Abundance Thinking says, “Well at least I have this! If I share some of it with someone else, there’ll be more when I need it!” Generosity Breaks Scarcity Thinking and Grows Abundance Thinking! When you begin to feel lack, give! There’s something about giving, even out of your own need, that says, “I’m not broke!”
• Think of something you’re thankful you have and give so someone else has that too! If you have two coats, wear one and give one. 10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?” 11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” (Luke 3:10-11 NLT)
• Give even though you still have needs and give in ways that specifically help other people in need. Prayer: Father, Thank you for that moment in 1987 when you began to change my Scarcity Thinking to Abundance Thinking! So much good has happened since then! Please help me to keep pushing the boundaries and growing in grace and good! Amen!