S70P7 – The happy giver: never stops

Gal. 6:8-10

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The first time she helped serve a meal to those in need she realized that she was not nearly as generous as she could be.  Her desire to volunteer more and share more snowballed into a new daily commitment.  Her goal was to do one generous good deed a day.  That goal kept her vigilant, and the first thing on her mind every day was finding her opportunity to give and serve.  What happened, however, was that each fulfilled opportunity became like someone putting the brakes on her generosity.  Once she fulfilled her good deed for the day, she stopped looking for other opportunities.  It was as if a single act of generosity was enough for each 24-hour period.  What began as a way for her to find chances to do good deeds ended up limiting them.

I believe a common misconception for Christians is that we can reach a point at which we have done enough to help others.  It is this idea that there are certain boxes to be checked, and we can call it a day once we have checked them all.  If we review scriptures like the one above, we will see that the act of doing good to others is something which we never can do enough.  We are never to tire of doing it.  That means that we must be available and willing always for the opportunities God brings us.  Every day, every hour, every minute God can call us to give something more.  If someone is to decide that our generosity quota has been fulfilled, let it be him.  He is the one who provides everything we give, and He is the reason we give it.

It is the worldly mentality that tells us we have plenty of time to be generous to someone tomorrow.  The Christian mentality confesses that we do not know whether tomorrow will come, and we should do what we can while we can.  While some of us may feel that we ourselves are in need, I think a careful survey of what we have might show us that we always are able to give something.  Perhaps making ourselves available for these good deeds every waking moment will cause God to provide miraculous opportunities to give well beyond what we think we can. Father, keep us spiritually awake and energized that we would not grow tired of doing good and being generous in your name.