Rev Gav

Generous

Luke 6:29-31

If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Reflect

Jesus reminded his disciples that they must be generous, and their generosity must have no strings attached. Their generosity had to be unconditional.

When Jesus went around teaching, healing, and delivering people from oppression, he did not first ask if people deserved it, and he did not give out, expecting that somehow he would have the right to ask for anything in return. No, he gave unconditionally to everyone that asked. Everyone.

God is a God of superabundant generosity, and we, as we follow Jesus and this kingdom ‘way’, must also be generous. We can be generous with our possessions, our money, our time, our emotions, our words, and our actions. We can give money to the poor or someone in financial difficulty. We can be generous with our time and spend it with someone to give them company, comfort, or a listening ear. We can be generous with our words of encouragement or praise to those that are low or need a confidence boost.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this life that Jesus describes is how simple it seems. We are to live a life of superabundant love, but think for a moment, how many people actually live this out? Generosity goes against our worldly inclination to put ourselves first, and is at odds with iur greed and our fear that we might somehow ‘lose out’.

Do

Think of someone who is in need; someone who needs money, time, or support. Do they deserve help? Probably not! Are they able to give back to the person who helps them? Perhaps not! However, whether or not they deserve it or they are able to give it back —be it time, money or love — decide how you are going to be generous to them today.

Pray

Holy God
You have given me so much,
even though I do not deserve it
and I am unable to pay you back.
Help me to be unconditionally generous,
with my time, money, and possessions.
May my words and my actions speak of you
and tell of your wondrous love.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

Why is it that Christians —who claim to be followers of Jesus — struggle to live up to this kingdom lifestyle?