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GENEROSITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS

1 KINGS 17:8-16 
HEBREWS 9:24-28
MARK 12:38-44 

The theme for our reflection is Generosity. To be generous means showing kindness and a readiness to give more of something, especially money and material possessions than is strictly necessary or expected. We shall proceed to discuss the theme through the following points:

1. The Lord is generous to those who are generous.  
2. We must be generous by using our position of power to help the vulnerable.
3. The ultimate reason for which we must be generous is to prepare for the judgement day.  

Firstly, the Lord is generous to those who are generous. In times of severe famine and poverty, it is hard for anyone to receive visitors and share the last meal in the house with them. The widow of Zarephath demonstrated generosity to Elijah. Finally, her prayer of survival would be answered through the Prophet Elijah. The widow and her son had to wait for Elijah to be fed first out of the little that was left in the house and lo and behold “… there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:15-16). In the same manner, the poor woman in Mark 12:41-44 demonstrated her generosity to God when she gave out of her poverty, Jesus commended her “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43-44). Jesus assured us of God’s generosity to those who give generously when He said “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38). Again our generosity must not be under compulsion for Paul admonished us that “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8) My dear friend, It is important to note that our generosity or ability to give is tested in times of misery, difficulty or challenges. Both the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:8-16 and the poor woman in Mark 12:41-44 had their faith tested in times of famine, hunger and poverty. Do we have to be generous to people at all times or only when we are very comfortable or have everything we ever needed?

Secondly, those who are in privileged positions and positions of power must be generous by acting justly and helping the vulnerable in society. It is for this reason that Jesus said in Mark 12:38-40.  “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” In other words, God has placed us in privileged positions to be generous to the poor and vulnerable in our society.  Micah 6:8 reminds us,  “O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.  Let us take note of Paul’s admonishment to those in privileged positions of power and have access to wealth. Paul wrote to Timothy,  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Thirdly, the ultimate reason for which we must generous is to prepare for the judgement day.  . Hebrews 9:26-28 makes it clear that  “…But he (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” In other words, those who live by faith in Jesus, love and act just towards everyone including the less privileged will be classified as fulfilling the will of God. Are we part of believers who are generous or we are are part of those who self-centred like the rich man in the story of Lazarus? We are told, “The time came when the beggar (Lazarus) died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’” (Luke 16:22-26) Let us be generous while we are still alive for all that we have now will become meaningless to our salvation when we dead, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:7)

In summary, beloved in the Lord, the Lord is generous to those who are generous.  Again, we must be generous by using our position of power to help the vulnerable, last but not least, the ultimate reason for which we must be generous is to prepare for the judgement day.  May the Lord continually bless and enable us to be generous to the end. Amen