Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Day 250 – Big Giver
Scripture focus: But the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness…Galatians 5:22
Goodness – agathusune – a person who is generous, big-hearted, liberal, and charitable with his finances – a giver!
Here’s a question for you – which would be harder for you to accomplish? (a). Behave well all the time (be good) or (b). be a generous giver?
I always assumed that option (a) was the kind of goodness referred to in Galatians. But it turns out – I was wrong! Instead, this passage is saying that God gives us the gift of generosity. Goodness is a supernatural urge to reach beyond our own natural inclinations – to get our way all the time AND become the kind of person who meets the natural needs of those around him. (Paraphasing Renner in his devotional of July 26th in Sparking Gems from the Greek)
God is gifting us with the ability to be generous. We have within us the urge to respond to the needs of those around us. That’s awesome. May we find a way today to express this particular fruit of the Spirit!
Recommended reading: Song of Songs 5 - 6 in the morning; Song of Songs 7 - 8 in the evening
Goodness – agathusune – a person who is generous, big-hearted, liberal, and charitable with his finances – a giver!
Here’s a question for you – which would be harder for you to accomplish? (a). Behave well all the time (be good) or (b). be a generous giver?
I always assumed that option (a) was the kind of goodness referred to in Galatians. But it turns out – I was wrong! Instead, this passage is saying that God gives us the gift of generosity. Goodness is a supernatural urge to reach beyond our own natural inclinations – to get our way all the time AND become the kind of person who meets the natural needs of those around him. (Paraphasing Renner in his devotional of July 26th in Sparking Gems from the Greek)
God is gifting us with the ability to be generous. We have within us the urge to respond to the needs of those around us. That’s awesome. May we find a way today to express this particular fruit of the Spirit!
Recommended reading: Song of Songs 5 - 6 in the morning; Song of Songs 7 - 8 in the evening
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