Have you ever been delighted by a gift?
I’m talking about a gift that really brought a broad grin to your face, a happiness that went deep down inside, a sentiment that touched you deeply.
Julie and I had the opportunity to give such a gift recently.
Last month I took part in the premiere of A People of Promise. It’s a dramatic production that tells the story of the birth of America from Columbus to the Constitution.
In the final scene of the play, I stood next to a woman from our church here whose costume included a hoop skirt. All through rehearsal, she could not stop swaying side-to-side and back-to-front, smiling the whole time. “I’ve gotta get one of these,” she said.
So for her birthday last week Julie and I bought her a hoop skirt. It’s not like we normally exchange gifts or anything. It was simply an opportunity to delight someone. And she was delighted. She told Julie it was the best birthday gift she’d received.
That got me thinking.
I wonder if that’s how God feels when we give generously.
Giving, and giving generously, is in God’s nature. Stop to consider for just a moment how much He’s given us. I say “just for a moment” because you should be able to do that for a long time, and I want you to read on.
At the same time, giving generously is most certainly contrary to our nature. Just look at the greed and materialism that we get so easily sucked into. I’m not talking about other people. I’m talking about you and me. Giving at all runs contrary to that, and giving generously especially so.
That’s why I think it delights God when we give generously to His work. And that’s really why I want people to have opportunities to give to our ministry.
I mean, I could prove this or demonstrate that or make a long-winded biblical argument for giving to our ministry. But New Testament giving is about cheerfulness and generosity and all that good stuff that comes along with grace.
If you want to take part in the work God is doing around the world, and delight God by being a generous, cheerful giver, here’s an opportunity.
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