Disciples Practice Generosity

What did you learn or relearn today?  How are you going to get personal about generosity? I’d love for you to comment on this!

When you look at the “Food for thought” questions that Luis includes in the bulletin, is there usually one that jumps out at you?

“Is this story (the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16) a morality tale? If so, what is the moral? How is it more than a morality tale?” is the set of questions that’s been rolling around in my mind this afternoon.

Here’s what I heard today in answer to this question. Yes, it’s a morality tale (moral: it’s too late to repent when you’re dead) but it’s so much more! It’s about what we do in the now of our Christian walk.

Now is the time to:

• respond in generosity to the gift of salvation. Be the people who don’t walk past (or set the guard dogs on) those who look to us to share what we’ve received.
• be the church that teaches and encourages others (and ourselves) to place our value in our eternal home — and not in the things or wealth we have here.
• reject Mammon. Quit imagining that we’re blessed because we’re prosperous. Remember that we’re blessed in our calling to place all our hope in God.

You all heard or can listen to the same sermon. So now I need to get personal, or what’s the point of this blog post?

I’m feeling encouraged that our Session is urging us to be involved in the community. So I’ll take a shift at October Fest (being “generous” with my time will probably be a lot of fun!). To be the church that’s here for our community, we have to be known.

I’ll try to remember that sharing material things and money are important, but that sharing the Good News is even more important. And maybe I need to find a good way to put my money where my mouth is on that one.

What did you learn or relearn today?  How are you going to get personal about generosity? I’d love for you to comment on this!