When times are hard, for many of us the easiest reaction is to withdraw. We kind of circle the wagons and retreat to the inner circle of God and self. This is not entirely bad, in that clinging to Jesus and pursuing intimacy in times of struggle is beneficial to our growth. The problem is when it comes a long term habit, not just a short term resource.
We cannot live in isolation and be spiritually whole because our faith was not meant to be practiced in complete solitude. I’m sure you will find exceptions to this rule if you look hard enough. But mostly if you look throughout the history of Christianity you will find people living and working in community.
This is not to say that periods of solitude don’t have benefit but that a lifestyle of isolation produces more in selfishness than it may yield in devotion. Click To TweetWe serve a God who is interested in relationship, not just ours with him but ours with each other. Anyone who says he loves God, but hates his brother is a liar.
Why does generosity matter in this area? Because without the willingness to share of ourselves through vulnerability and relationship we cannot grow in Christ. Generosity is an important medium for growth that is easy to miss. When we give, we acknowledge God as our ultimate provider. We become a tool for his work and watch him do miracles with our meager resources.
When we choose to withhold what we have because we feel unworthy or ineffective, we miss out on the multiplicative power of generosity. Click To TweetGive what you have, small as it may seem. Not just for those who would receive the benefit of such gifts but because it stretches and grows us into the likeness of Christ.
Risk dependence and interdependent, let generosity be part of the relationship you build with the world around you.
Next – Writing the Song of Our People: Building a Culture of Generosity
