by Linda Veath 

Live Generously t-shirtThe T-shirt caught my eye. Give Generously it said across the front. No, wait a minute. That’s not what it said. It said Live Generously. Wow. I’d never thought of generosity in that way.

I wondered why two phrases so similar actually seemed so different? Giving generously is certainly what we are called to do. Giving money, clothes, food, time, resources. But there’s a finite aspect to that, as if a distance exists between us and what we are giving to. As if we are still in control. In control of how much we give, how often we give, and when we give.

Living generously, however, seems to encompass all of our life. It’s a continual lifestyle, not just a single act of generosity. It’s giving up our agenda, the way we spend our resources, even our abilities, and letting God take over.

That’s the key. It’s not about living for Christ, but Christ living through us.

As we read His Holy Word, as we pray to Him, as we seek to see others through His eyes, we are living by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave His life for us.

And as we live generously, we learn that the person who lives generously also gives generously.

To God be all the honor and glory. Amen.

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This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 NIV