By: Mike Riley
A couple of years ago, I read a news story about a lady bartender in Kansas who had been waiting on one of her steady customers. He had always tipped her well, sometimes leaving as much as half the tab. But one day, he gave her a $10,000 tip for a $26 meal. Can we even imagine it? What a terrific display of abundant generosity from this customer!
Paul gave Timothy a charge to encourage the wealthier members of the Lord’s church in his area, to display an abundant generosity mindset as well (1 Timothy 6:17-18). It was obvious these members didn’t fully understand their responsibility to the kingdom of God regarding their money and possessions (2 Corinthians 8:1-5), so Paul challenged Timothy to remind them that along with great wealth comes great responsibility (cf. see spiritual principle in Luke 12:48).
This responsibility included being humble, finding their security in God — not in riches, and using their money to do good (1 Timothy 6:17-18; cf. Gal. 6:10).
They needed to know that “how” they handled their money and possessions, was a revealing factor in indicating the spiritual condition of their heart (cf. Acts 5:1-11).
Brethren, even if we’re not wealthy financially, God has still called us to have an abundant generosity mindset.
We can share what we have (i.e., time, talents, opportunity, etc.) and be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6:18; cf. Proverbs 3:27; Gal. 6:10).
If we have a generous attitude about our money, we are much more likely to be generous in other matters concerning the Lord’s people and His work.
Let’s think about it!