Generosity

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.   (verses 12-14)

Read Colossians 3: 12-17

The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy told a story about something that occurred during a devastating famine. A beggar, weak and near death, approached Tolstoy and asked for assistance. Tolstoy searched his pockets for money but discovered he didn’t even have a single coin. He took the beggar’s worn hands and said, ‘Don’t be angry with me, my brother, I have nothing with me’. The thin lined face of the beggar lit up. He whispered in reply, ‘But, sir, you called me “brother”- that is the greatest gift you could give me’.

It is the Christian’s prayer that we might be able to give as Christ has given to us. Jesus regarded us as brothers and sisters when he took on himself our sin and punishment. He generously and lovingly gave his life for us. Daily he ungrudgingly forgives our sin and helps us in our battles with anxiety, doubt and fear. We ask God to give us the same spirit of ‘compassion, kindness, humility and patience’ as Jesus has, so that we can reach out to others in love without counting how much it costs us in time, energy or money.

It’s a tall order to stay away from selfishness and a self-serving attitude. Thank God for the generous gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus, thank you for your generosity towards me. Help me to give to others as you have given to me. Amen.

by Vince Gerhardy, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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