Generosity - Free

God has a good way of weaving in themes in my life… Things that are supposedly unrelated teach me the same lesson. Gee, does He know all the details or what?

Recently, the theme is generosity—especially a free, liberal generosity. And with Christ, a profound generosity.

I try to guard my rights and my interests—sometimes even to the extent of my time and my goods or money. For the future. Just in case. A little now, more for later.

This is due partly, I confess, for fear. Partly because of the lack of confidence in God (I confess—SIN!). Partly because of my Dutch family (if you aren't Dutch, the Dutch are known to guard their money and to economize—a Dutch person always walks around with coupons, just in case, and saves that little tiny portion of food, because you can't waste it). Partly because of my American mentality, always with an eye to the future.

In the eyes of Hondurans, I'm a miser. That hurt when I realized it. Ow. Not pretty.

I can't speak for all Hondurans, but in the family and church I was at in San Lorenzo, and here at the seminary, they give generously, with freedom. If they have two melons, they give one away. If they buy a pack of cookies, it is shared. If they have something, they share it. In their poverty. To me, it seems that, despite their poverty, they don't have fearful thoughts for the future. Or perhaps, (I say this laughingly) there are no thoughts for the future (the Latin American cultural mindset tends to be present-time-oriented). Or perhaps it is a group-oriented, communal mentality—"We are living here together, we are in this poverty-stricken life together, so we will help each other mutually." Or perhaps it is faith that God will provide. Perhaps it is the love of God for their neighbor overflowing. I can analyze it and try to dissect the causes, and perhaps never arrive at the real cause—but that's the way it is.

They have a liberty of generosity that I don't know. I want to know, I long to know, a generosity of life, of heart, time, and love—freely. I long to know the love of God for me deeper, to have a deeper trust in Him. True, true generosity can only be based in the love of God, a firm knowledge that He loves me and cares for me. Because of his love and his sovereignty, I can trust in Him, deeply. This acts out in the liberty to love freely, liberally, and profoundly—overflowing from the love of God for me, a deep confidence in that.

Because I am loved by God, I don't need to watch out for my own interests or protect my rights.

God knows what I need. "For your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Mt. 6:8).

God loves me perfectly. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 Juan 4:18).

Jesus is for me, and God did not spare his own Son. "If he didn't spare his own son, what won't he provide for me? What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32).

Every good and perfect gift is from above. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

And when it comes to Christ—his generosity of life was ultimate—he gave his life for me. With his life in me, I want to love like that.

"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).