Generosity

mmueller

19 Posts Published

Date

September 15, 2020

Categories

In 2 Corinthians 9:8-15, the apostle Paul talks about generosity as an important element of God’s character. In fact, taking care of the poor, the hungry, and the needy is one of the many ways we are able to get closer to the heart of God. Through our generous acts, we become the literal hands and feet of Jesus, the One who spoke and lived generously, just like His Father.

The fact that we are empowered to be the actual instruments of God’s work throughout our community and the world should give us great joy. To even think that the Creator of the Universe entrusts us to do so is both humbling and encouraging. But, as the well-known phrases states, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

Do you as a believer of God feel you are known to be generous? Do you feel as a member of Ascension Lutheran Church that we are a unified, generous body of believers? If not, in what ways can you grow in your generosity with your time, your love, your money, your possessions, your abilities, or just your life in general? In what ways can you stimulate your brothers and sisters at Ascension to bless others with what God has given to us?

One of the easiest ways at Ascension to bless others is through our vital and enduring Manna Pantry ministry. Due to COVID-19, the ministry and its abilities have been limited, but through it all, we are still able to bless families in need with gift cards. Will you consider making a donation this week? We are asking for donations of $25 gift cards from Publix or Aldi that will be distributed this Friday, September 18. If you are able to do so, you may drop the cards off at the church office and a member of our staff will ensure that the Manna team receives them.

Let us make “room for more” generosity, keeping it at the forefront of our minds, and allowing these acts to illuminate the glory of God to a world that is in desperate need of healing and relief.

“This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11-12