Graciousness, Generosity, and the Character of the King.

In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul is asking the Churches of Achaia in general, and the Corinthians in particular, to live up to his boasting about them by doing what?  By giving generously in grace!  What I’m about to tell you is true whether we like it... and true whether we don’t.  Generosity and graciousness are two ways in which our love for Jesus Christ, the ‘God of all grace’ {1 Pet. 5:10a}, is demonstrated socially, meaning outwardly.  And not only demonstrated, but practiced, as we literally help the hurting and allow ourselves to become, in those moments, an instrument of Abba’s grace!

Scripture abounds with the blessings which accrue to those who make themselves a blessing to others.  Not the least of which is the favor of our Father’s eyes smiling down upon us.  Read vv. 16-28 from Psalm 37, a beautiful oratio of David on the heart of the Righteous and the hand of the Lord protecting them.  In this one section of this one Psalm David refers to the Sons and Daughters of God as “the Righteous” four times, “the blameless” once, “the Just” once as well, and “His Faithful Ones” as a finale.  Listen to me closely.  You are all these things ‘in the Beloved’ {Eph. 1:6}, in the holy and healing Son of God!  “For He chose us in Him,” wrote Paul in Ephesians 1:4, “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us to be adopted as His Sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves” {vv. 5-6}, in “the Beloved” {NAS}.

Let me give you a little hint here.  Graciousness and generosity reflect the character of our King.  And as we follow in His footsteps, they come to reflect more and more our character as well!  You cannot claim the title ‘Follower of Jesus, Lover of God,’ a ‘spiritual’ individual, without sooner or later becoming a more gracious human being, more generous with your money.  These are simply facts of life in the Kingdom of Grace.  If you don’t live under the Banner of Grace, if you don’t savor each breath as a gift of His grace, if you don’t love the grace which has poured out upon us blessing after blessing which we could not earn and do not deserve, then you can go on nursing a bitter soul and a miserly spirit.  When you decide to rid yourself of these petty evils, Grace will be there waiting for you!

Solomon said, “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor” {Prov. 22:9}.  And David, once again, in Psalm 112:5, “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”  By these— our generosity and graciousness in giving to others, especially in the Cause of Christ— each and every one of us is challenged to live out our love for our Lord.  One of the ways in which genuine love for Abba can be proven is by generosity and graciousness in giving.

The Apostle makes it crystal clear in this passage, in four separate places, giving to people in need is “service to the Saints” {8:4 and 9:1, 12-13}.  There it is.  Graciousness with others and generosity in giving are critical components of our priesthood {1 Pet. 2:4-9}.  We are, each and every one of us, royal priests.  Peter calls those of us in this present Age “a holy priesthood,” who execute the office of our priesthood by “offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  Once again he says, “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” {1 Peter 2:5 and 9a}.  And so we are.  May we live, and may we give, with the nobility expected of us.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously