A Generous Life

One of my favorite books growing up was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It is a fantastic book with a wonderful message about how giving can make us happy. As an adult reading the book to my sons I have also been looking at another side to the story. The tree which has been giving and giving has never fully satisfied the “appetite” of the man that keeps asking of it. So I have been asking myself what has the man given back to the tree? I guess the supposed reciprocation from the man is that of companionship to the tree, but is that truly an equal reciprocation?

In my life I have witnessed a very similar relationship between myself and God. Our God is very generous and how are we asked to reciprocate? Jesus answers this question when he is asked what is the greatest commandment. He answered,

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” – Mark 12:30-32

We are asked to reciprocate God’s generosity with generosity of our own in heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are are called to generosity where our focus is NOT about generosity of money, but rather the generosity of your presence.

A person who lives a generous life understands that we don’t reciprocate God’s love by writing a check, but rather by giving of ourselves in relationship, speech, wisdom, and prayer. This Sunday, October 18th, is Children’s Sunday at Lake Cities United Methodist Church and I ask you to consider how God may be calling you to develop relationships and support the youth and children’s ministries at LCUMC.

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church