S113P4 – Navigating prosperity: generous Father, generous child

Lk. 18:18-23

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

She grew up very rich, but she was not one of those kids who was oblivious to her family’s fortune.  What they had was clear for everyone to see, and she wanted for nothing.  She received every gift she ever requested.  Her parents were very generous with her just as they were generous with many others.  One day, they shared with her the importance of giving to those who are in need.  They asked her to choose three toys to donate for the local holiday toy drive, but the decision was impossible.  No matter which toy she considered, she always thought of a reason why she could not part with that one.  Even her least favorite toy became favorable in her sight when asked to give it away.  

We have a Father who is very generous with us.  Just this week He went above and beyond to provide more than I need, and I know He loves to bless me with that abundance.  It can become easy to see my prosperity as a relationship simply between God and me.  What is his becomes mine, but I can take ownership of that in a way that He has not necessarily designed.  As generous as He is with his blessings toward me, I must be that generous in passing those blessings on to others.  It should never be on my mind that my abundance is just for me, that my prosperity is purposed only to benefit my life.  The Lord very well might call me to take every increase He gives me and make it someone else’s. 

As easily as we open our hands to accept the gifts God has for us, we should just as easily be prepared and willing to give up those gifts for the sake of others.  We cannot see this as a loss when God calls us to be this generous.  Passing along our abundance to others and helping to create abundance for them is itself a blessing for us.  It is a great gift for the Father to give us a part in bringing prosperity to someone else.  His giving is our example, and we never give of what is ours anyway.  Everything we give is really his.  Father, keep us from clinging to our abundance as if your generosity could run out, but help us to easily part with what we have in order to bless others.