Learn to Love by Being Generous

In Philippians 4:18 I read, “I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me . . . They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.” (NLT)

Life is not about things. It’s about learning how to love.

One of the best ways to learn to love is through generosity—giving my time, money, effort, and energy. When I’m generous, I’m affirming that God and people matter most to me. In other words, what matters most is love.

Every time I give—whether that’s giving my time, money, effort, or energy—I reveal what matters to me. 

Does my schedule reveal that my career matters most to me? Does my bank statement show that my hobby is most important? Or does how I spend my money and time show that loving God and people matters most to me?

If at the end of life I’ve acquired a giant pile of things but I’m estranged from my family and friends, I’ve missed the point! I’ve missed the opportunity to love through my generosity.

But when I spend my life building generously into people and relationships, I’m living in the light of heaven. I’m living in love.

Think about the people I’m most grateful for from my own life. Most of those are probably people who have invested time, money, effort, or energy in me.

Paul gives an example of this: “You have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News . . . No other church did this . . . At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me . . . They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:14-15, 18 NLT).

The people Paul was writing to had learned this truth: I earn a living by what I make, but I earn the respect and gratitude of others by what I give out of a loving heart.

Take some time today to reflect on the people who’ve been generous to me. Then use them as a model for how I can be generous to others.

In summary, life is not about things. It’s about learning how to love. One of the best ways to learn to love is through generosity—giving my time, money, effort, and energy. When I’m generous, I’m affirming that God and people matter most to me. Every time I give—whether that’s giving my time, money, effort, or energy—I reveal what matters to me.  Does my schedule reveal that my career matters most to me? Does my bank statement show that my hobby is most important? Or does how I spend my money and time show that loving God and people matters most to me? If at the end I’ve acquired a giant pile of things but I’m estranged from my family and friends, I’ve missed the point! I’ve missed the opportunity to love through my generosity. But when I spend my life building generously into people and relationships, I’m living in love. I earn a living by what I make, but I earn the respect and gratitude of others by what I give out of a loving heart. Take some time today to reflect on the people who’ve been generous to me. Then use them as a model for how I can be generous to others.

I have all I need, not all I want. God takes care of me and will supply all my needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to me in Christ Jesus. I can trust that God will always meet my needs. There is a difference between my wants and my needs. I may not always get what I want. But when I trust in Christ, he will help adjust my perception, my attitude and my appetite. I begin to accept his provision and his power to live for him and his purposes for my life. I have no need to worry, life is more than just the accumulation of things. He has assumed responsibility for all of my needs. If I find myself worrying, then it's because I'm assuming responsibility for something that God has said he will take care of. God knows what's going on in my life. He knows all my needs, even before I ask. He wants to help me out. 

Understanding that God Is on My Side

In review of Philippians 2:13, Paul tells me that  “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).

In Philippians 2, Paul tells me that I need to work hard to show the results of my salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do things without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize me. Live a clean, innocent life as his child, shining like a bright light in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

No matter what I’m going to face in the coming weeks, I won’t face it alone. God is with, in, and for me.

Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).

The word “working” in Greek is the word energos, from which we get our word “energy.” This means that God is the energy driver in my life. I’m not just going on willpower. I’m not just going on my own power. God says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I’m facing.

Not only is he in me, he also is with me. The Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you . . . On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:18, 20 NIV). This is quite a promise! The Bible reminds me that Christ is in me, and that I’m sheltered with Christ, and that I’m sealed with the Holy Spirit. That means for the Enemy to get to me, he’s got to get through the Trinity! That’s a pretty good protection. That is a great fear reliever.

Not only is God with and in me, God is also for me. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, no one can defeat us” (NCV).

When a shepherd leads the sheep, guard dogs stay at the back, nipping at the sheep to keep them moving in the right direction.

The Bible says that the guard dogs in my life are God’s goodness and mercy. God gives me the things I don’t deserve, his goodness. And he doesn’t give me the things I do deserve, that’s his mercy.

I can get up every morning and say, “God, thank you that you’re going to be with me today, you’re going to be in me today, and you’re going to be for me today.”

Isn’t that great news? God is with, in and for me.

In summary, God is working in me, giving me the desire, and the power to do what pleases him. Paul reminds me that I need to work hard to show the results of my salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. I need to do things without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize me. I need to live a clean, innocent life as his child, shining like a bright light in a world full of crooked and perverse people. I'm not left to go on my own power, rather he says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I'm facing for he is the energy driver in my life. I'm reminded in his Word that I'm sheltered with Christ, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. For the enemy to get to me, he's got to get through the Trinity. God gives me the things I don't deserve - his goodness. He doesn't give me the things I do deserve - that's his mercy. I can say each day, God, thank you that you're going to be with me today, that you'll be in me and you'll be for me. 

Father, thank you for the reminder that you are at my side working in and protecting me. I need to do my part and live out the salvation you’ve given me. You give me the power to life and the protection I need. I pray this morning Father that I live in light of your presence in, with, and for me. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day. Help me be of service to others today and display Christ’s character in what I do. I pray these things in your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Learning How to Count the Cost Before Committing

In review of Proverbs 20:25 it says, “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost.”

Bottom Line:

It is foolish to make a promise before carefully considering all of the costs.

What this means to me:

I shouldn’t allow myself to fall into the trap of making a promise, especially to the Lord, without really considering the full cost of that promise to myself and the life of those around me.

Whenever there is a major decision to make, Scripture reminds me to count the cost: “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost” (Proverbs 20:25 TLB).

Every decision has a price tag. So I need to consider what my decision will cost in four areas of my life: time, money, energy, and relationships.

What I’m learning is that it’s ok to not commit immediately to anything, but rather tell others, “I’ll get back to you.” It is OK to ponder and count the full cost. I shouldn’t allow myself to be pressured, because there is a law of life that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes teach: It’s always easier to get in than get out.

For instance, it’s easier to get in debt than out of debt. It’s easier to get into a relationship than out of a relationship. It’s easier to fill your schedule than fulfill your schedule. And it’s always easier to get in than get out.

Luke 14:28-29 reminds me that, “If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don’t, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you” (NCV).

So a key question to ask when I’m making a major decision: Is it worth the cost to me? And then count that cost before I ever commit.

One area I don’t always consider is how much energy it will take to fulfill the commitment I’m making. Making a commitment can zap any of my available energy.

However, being a natural “people pleaser” it’s not always easy for me to tell other to “Let me think about it”. Sometimes I think they will just pressure me even further, however this is only a projection I place and not necessarily what they may say. I just don’t give them the chance.

In summary I’m thinking I should consider what kind of decisions would constitute making a significant investment in cost worth it to me? So, in my brief time this morning, what comes to mind are the things that will further the kingdom and his purposes.  In my life I have plenty of examples where people I know have made significant decisions that have cost them, however, these decisions have helped them make a difference for the kingdom.  I should look to their examples and outcomes as I make these kinds of kingdom commitments.

Goals Will Help Me To Do What Matters Most

In review of Ephesians 3:20 it says, “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”

Bottom Line:

God can do anything, far more than you could ever imagine, guess or request. Even in your wildest dreams.

What this means to me:

God is able to do and accomplish infinitely more than I could ever think or dare to dream of. He does this through his mighty power at work within me.

As the new year begins, it’s always a time for thinking about and setting goals for the coming year. The Bible shows us that Jesus set goals. He often announced publicly what his next goal was for the next phase of his ministry. Likewise it is good for me to set goals. If I set the right kinds of goals, God will accomplish much more through me than I could ever imagine.

First I need to make sure that I set goals. It a spiritual responsibility. If I don’t have any goals for my life, then I’ve ultimately decided to let others and circumstances run my life. If I don’t decide in advance what’s important, then I’m letting others decide it for me. Without focus, I’ll end up wasting my life, because I haven’t clarified how I want to grow as a follower of Christ.

The Bible reminds me that to be spiritually mature, I have to set a goal and move toward it as I keep my eyes focused on it. Philippians 3:12-15 say, “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize …. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. All of us who are mature should think in this same way” (Philippians 3:12, 14-15a CEV).

Next, I need to set goals because they are essentially statements of my faith. Its essentially saying, “I believe that God wants me to accomplish this by this time. This is what I believe God is going to do in my life.”

Goals can be so much more than statements of faith; they call actually stretch my faith if I construct them properly. The bigger my goal, the more my faith will be stretched. And stretching and acting in faith pleases God. Ephesians 3:20 says, “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (MSG)

Also, I need to set goals because they help me focus my energy. Focus is the big key to an effective life. If I spread my energy out and diffuse it over a whole bunch of things, then I won’t make any impact. However, if I focus my life, it can be powerful, and it can change the world around me.

In this life, I don’t have time to do everything. The good news is that God doesn't expect me to do everything! A key to being effective in life as a man of God is to do what matters most and forget everything else. Goals help me maintain that kind of focus. “I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something — not just the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NCV).

I think it’s important to set goals that will make a difference in the kingdom and not ones that are completely selfish. It’s also good to establish goals that help to build my skills, especially ones that can help others. Setting these types of goals reflect that what God desires is a high priority for my life. As I begin to set goals for the coming year, I will be important to focus my time and energy on things that will really matter. Setting goals is a responsible way to demonstrate my faith and to help me keep focused in the coming year.