It is for me the parable of the two men. Both were about the same age, and came of age during the era of the Great Depression. The one man, like so many during that time, chose to live a guarded financial life, being very careful and frugal. The other man, having lost his father in death, alone faced the prospect of foreclosure on the family farm during this time of extreme economic difficulty. But, regardless of the times. he believed in generosity with what he had, both to his local church and those in need. Over the years he prospered, while the other man always struggled to get by with the meager fare he had. Both men serve as examples of the law of returns.

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return" (Luke 6:38 NASB)

It is an absolute choice: choose to be sparing or generous with that which has been entrusted to you, and receive accordingly. Our standard of giving will most assuredly be our standard of receiving.

While on the surface these appear to simply be two basic philosophies in life about giving, there is something much more important in play here. The motive for being generous or guarded in giving is reflected in an important spiritual perspective: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36 NASB). Our giving attitude is a reflection of our perspective on God's grace.

I'll freely admit that generosity does not come easy to me. Like many people, I was raised to know the value of a dollar, and the importance of hard work. The American work ethic became a greater value in my life than the grace of God. But, I've been blessed to know many generous believers through the years who modeled God's grace to me through their compassionate ways. Their generosity has caused to me to better know the grace of God that motivated them.

I much more clearly see that generosity is the "fruit" of a genuine encounter with God's grace through His Son, Jesus. The first church lived in the reality of that grace in that "there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need" Acts 4:34-35 NASB). Grace inspired grace in practical and necessary ways.

May a personal encounter with God's grace today inspire acts of grace that bless others and open doors of opportunity to share the great kingdom gospel.

Steve

© 2010, Steve Taylor