Generosity. What’s is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that word? If you are like me, I naturally thought about money. It is good to be generous in giving money. In fact, the Bible tells us to be generous with our money. However, I want to talk about a different kind of generosity. A generosity that involves sacrifice. The ultimate act of generosity is God sacrificing His Son so you and I could be in right relationship with our Creator. I believe God wants us to be generous with more than just money. I believe He wants us to be generous with our time and our talents.
I believe God wants us to be generous with more than just money. I believe He wants us to be generous with our time and our talents
For us to be generous with our time and talents, we must, first, be willing to sacrifice those things and set aside our personal wants or needs. The only appropriate response to God’s sacrifice is to give our time and talents generously to further God’s kingdom.
I truly believe that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for my youth pastor sacrificing his time to invest in me. He saw something in me that no one else, including myself, could see. When we give up our “free time” to invest in someone else’s life, the possibilities for God to move are endless.
I worked at Camp Table Rock, a Christian summer camp, for four summers. Every summer, college students gave up their summers to invest in teens from all around the Midwest. Not only that, but they also gave their talents to help lead teens to a deeper relationship with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, and you will abound in every good work.”
I challenge all of us to be intentional about finding ways in which God can use us to further His kingdom. Where can I give my time? To whom can I give more time? How can God use my talents to bring about redemption to those around me?
Austin Redlich
Youth Pastor