God’s Economy

generosity: liberal in giving; openhanded

Being in the midst of this process of petitioning and preparing I am coming to realize more and more the Lord's forethought.  He began 2012 by placing certain people and events in my life to obviously teach me about generosity.  He in His extravagant grace made me to be recipient of some incredible things.  I never thought by being the recipient of gifts I could ever learn so much about the Gospel.  Seeing others shower love on an undeserving me struck me about the goodness of our God.  Those became moments that I realized I had not really understood the Gospel because I had not conciously ever felt the weight of His grace.  These pictures of Jesus caused me to learn firsthand that He gives FREELY and expects nothing in return.  He gives because He loves and for absolutely no other reason.  I am so thankful for this gracious love that continues to move when I often hang on to what little I have even though He was the benefactor.     

Being the recipient of generosity will do some funny things to you.  You are made humbled, grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed.  You are left inspired.  You are given a small snapshot of what Jesus did for you on the cross.  He took your debt and absorbed it for no other reason than just to be with you.  The only thing you are left wanting for is a moment to share your precious news with others.

So, if that's what it feels like to receive, what does it feel like to give?  When you begin to take on the character of Jesus and act as He would, there is His presence.  By being faithful to his heart, the Gospel is unleashed.  There is nothing that will change you like partaking in Jesus and the cross.  Every time we give beyond ourselves, past what we think we have in us we are altered in a way that leaves us looking less like ourselves and more like our Savior.  Knowing that, what holds us back?

I have been guilty of clinging to what's around me for my value and trying to increase my status by visible means.  But ironically, none of it's mine anyway.  The Lord has given me everything that I have for one reason alone and that is to make His name great. When I stop operating on that understanding is when I cease to be involved in God's work.  To think that He sees us as professing believers with our tight fists clinging to our resources (financial or otherwise) as though they are the end and not the means.  All the while children starve, women are bought and sold, and people created in the image of God are treated as nothing.  At what point does this break our hearts?

Love is asking a lot.  Love asks us to give beyond our means.  Love asks us to make sacrifices for others, cut into our own agendas, and always prioritize someone over ourselves.  Love requires us to be fearless.

And I can not do it.  But what I can not do, Jesus can.

Love is a chance for all of us to partake in the Gospel.  Find dependency upon Jesus.  If you are not made uncomfortable by your faith, if you are not sweating a little bit by a step that you have taken then I urge you now to make some room for Jesus.  He is dying to fill that space if we would only create some for Him.  He is a big God with cosmic-sized plans, please do not shrink Him.  That'd be dishonest and well it's just no fun.

Believe you me, I am sweating.  This first fundraising deadline is breathing down my neck.  I plead with you to join me in this venture.  I keep hearing people say that they are jealous of me and my chance at this adventure.  Well, friends, you don't have to be jealous anymore.  You too can participate.  Journey with me.  Sure, I might be seeing the world and experiencing crazy things, but the heart of this whole story is spiritual and you and I both know that you do not have to be in India to experience that.