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| Nancy Rupli |
Generosity…..the key to joy!
I love the Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of “GENEROSITY”: “Free in giving or sharing.” What I love about it is the word “free”. There’s a great element of freedom when we adopt generosity into our hearts and our lives. When we hear the word generosity we immediately tend to think in monetary terms but there are so many more ways to give. Many stirring situations will move us to a place of generosity but what is it that keeps us from a LIFE of generosity?
GENEROSITY AND OUR “STUFF”
Our money and our things! Jesus talked about true riches when He mentioned that everything we have on this earth can be stolen…it can get broken…it can get rusty…it can get moth-eaten. But the “treasures” we lay up towards eternity are simply that…eternal. Freedom lies in taking pleasure in our possessions but taking joy in the things that money can’t buy. I once heard someone say that just the right amount of money was “enough so as not to worry about your needs and not so much as to worry what to do with it!” There is no greater joy than giving! It gives us an entrance into the workings of God! How exhilarating it is to “feel lead” to give to someone and hear the words “I’ve been praying for that exact amount!”
Sometimes as Christians we confuse stinginess with being good stewards. I was so distraught to hear the story of a pastor who was irate when a restaurant automatically added the 15% tip to his bill. He scrawled on the receipt, “ I GIVE GOD 10%; WHY SHOULD I GIVE YOU 15%??” Sadly the picture of the receipt was posted on the internet and it went viral. The waitress not only received no tip but lost her job. It’s my personal opinion that the pastor is the one who should get fired…for gross misrepresentation of his Superior (a kind, loving, GENEROUS God). I always say,” If you’re not going to leave a big fat tip then don’t publicly pray and bless your food!” (so, tell us how you really feel, Nancy!)
GENEROSITY AND OUR TIME
My Mom will be 90 years old soon and is very healthy except for one thing…her mobility. To transport her from one place to the next is an exercise in patience. Not only does she move VERY slowly but she stops every four steps to chat. She lives with my sister and to help out I try to take her to most of her appointments.
No matter how patient I pretend to be she would always say, “I’m sorry I can’t move any faster; I know I’m frustrating you.” Now the last thing I want to do is to make my dear sweet mother feel like she’s frustrating me! I finally realized that the bottom line is that deep down I can be very stingy with my time. I made a decision to GIVE MY TIME GENEROUSLY to my Mom. FREEDOM! Free to enjoy my time with my Mom without thinking about all the things I have waiting for me to do. I’m grateful to God that He made this adjustment in my heart so that I’ll have joy remembering the last years with my Mom. Sometimes we can embrace the feeling that we’re being imposed upon as if our time is the most precious thing.
We lose our freedom to give and to share.
GENEROSITY AND OUR EMOTIONS
In the book of Romans Paul says we’re to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice”. We aren’t free to rejoice over someone else’s blessings if we’re focused on ourselves – what we are or are not getting. That focus will lead us down the path of envy which according to Proverbs is “rottenness to the bones.” Joy comes to us as we generously rejoice and celebrate the good things in the lives of others.
Notice that the scripture says that when someone is weeping the best thing we can do is to weep with them. We really make it harder than it is. We try to give explanations, prescriptions, and lofty words but when it comes right down to it the best thing we can do is cry together and say “I’m so sorry.”
Generosity is freedom …. If I’m weighing out a “should I or shouldn’t I” give this or do that, I pray I’ll err on the side of generosity. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
In a world encrusted with cynicism and criticism when HONOR breaks through it’s a bright and shining moment! Opportunities are all around us to honor people…strangers as well as people we know. Jesus always had his eyes open to situations where he could encounter a person and show them honor. The Apostle Paul even honored those in authority who were sentencing him to prison! To honor someone is to acknowledge their worth and show them respect.
Genuine Honor
I once read that “you can’t give someone responsibility without giving them authority.” Sometimes we mistake placating for honor. “Placating” is to “appease” or to “soothe by concession”.
We can throw someone a bone instead of giving them something they can sink their teeth into! It’s the difference between letting someone do a job for you and giving them a job to do.
Moses said to give some of your authority to the Joshuas thus honoring the callings and gifts of the next generation. Which brings me to the next topic….
Generational Honor
I was sharing with a group of young people and I asked the question, “What do you feel is the biggest misconception that people my age have in regards to your generation?” I was totally surprised that the answer was “ You think that we don’t want to hear what you have to say.” The fact is each generation needs to hear what each other has to say! I honor and value the perspective that younger generations have in regards to where we are as a culture. My point of reference cannot take me to the places of relevance that are crucial for me. As hard as I try I simply cannot think like a young person! (‘cuz I’m simply not young) In turn the experience and insight that my years have given me are valuable to that young person just heading into life. I’m honored to sit and have coffee with a young person - sharing our insights with one another.
Generous Honor
As I was waiting for my breakfast companion to show up at IHOP one morning I noticed a young man contemplating the menu. He was 18-20 years old with an abundance of piercings and tattoos. He asked the waitress, “How much is this if I don’t get the whipped cream?” I felt the prodding of the Holy Spirit that I was to buy this young man breakfast and let him know that God loves him. I approached him and said , “This might seem a little weird to you, but I’m a Christian and I just feel that God wants to let you know how much He loves you and I was wondering if you would give me the PRIVILEGE of buying your breakfast?” His response was “cool!” And of course I encouraged him to get the whipped cream! Sometimes in our religious way we can become condescending. “Here I am to help…. you poor sinner!” But Jesus always treated people with honor and respect…the woman at the well who had five husbands and was living with a man…the woman caught in adultery…Zaccheus the scoundrel.
Dr. C. Russell Archer is one of my heroes of the faith. He was a true statesman in the kingdom of God who walked in integrity and grace. My good friend Angie Grimes worked in his office for many years and I asked her what was the character quality that impressed her the most about Dr. Archer. She said, “It didn’t matter whether someone was a window washer or the governor, when they walked through the front door of that office he treated every individual as if they were the most important person on the planet.”
That is generous honor. Jesus said, “ When you do it to the least of these my brothers, you’ve done it onto Me.”
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| Nancy Rupli |
Honor releases the good and the God in others. Jesus couldn’t perform miracles in his own home town because he wasn’t honored. As we generously show genuine honor to the old and the young, to the greatest and the least we bring out the best in others and the best in ourselves. “HONOR all people….”
