2 Corinthians 9:12; 1 John 3
We are in church-wide emphasis called Extravagant Generosity: The Grace of Gifting that is part of our annual Financial Stewardship Campaign.
Questions
- How is your living showing the love of God in you?
- How is your gifting showing the love of God in you?
Today's readings confront me with the reminder that my life isn't about me, and that that reality of faith really is culturally counterintuitive at times.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not careful, a sense of 'entitlement' sneaks into my belief system with the idea that I somehow, because of my faithfulness If nothing else, deserve to be loved by God, and 'ought' to have the temporal blessings that I enjoy. As much as I may *like* that, it isn't Christianity.
Following Jesus repositions my ego with a Christ-centeredness and only there can I clearly see what it means that I am made in God's image. My loving isn't about what a nice, caring guy that I am and want to be. Nor does my gifting show that I am generous simply because I *choose* to be from what is *mine*.
Living and gifting are the visible, temporal, transformation expressions of Christ's present-effecting, legacy-leaving identity. I am simply awed that God chooses to be present through me and you who believe.