Generosity... who am I?

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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.

So, this Friday, while everyone was out of the house, Hallie and I stole away and bought the family Christmas tree. We made the ritual trek down to Byres Road with the pram and, with Hallie sitting in the front seat, crammed the tree in to the second seat - yes, it was quite a spectacle. 2 foot toddler in front... 6 foot tree in back. With out too much effort we were able to walk the tree home. Not too big. Not too small. Perfectly green... a little of the outdoors in our living room. Though I sometimes whine (due mostly to needle clean up), it really is one of my favorite family traditions. Come Saturday we began the process of decorating the tree with our 12 year collection of strange and wonderful Christmas decorations and 12 able bodied hands. Though tremendously chaotic, it reminded me of all that I hold dear and I found my mind wandering over king Davids words so many centuries ago... who am I Lord that you should have blessed me so?

This morning as I was reading in Matthew I was struck with a "SO" that I had never seen before. It fell in between two passages that I was very familiar with but had never seen as connected. Jesus tells us that if we ask, our Father knows how to give good gifts REALLY well (7:7-11). Jesus also tells us that to love our neighbor (and obey Him) is as simple as doing for others what you wish they would do for you (7:12). Both of these amazing truths are powerful in there own rights. There is this amazing God who is so free with His love and free with His blessing... desiring to show His glory by meeting the needs of His people and providing for the salvation and redemption of all creation. And, there is His people, commanded and inspired to pour out love and mercy on those with whom they share this globe. But, what is so amazing is the power that comes when you connect the verses together with the "so".

God gives generously SO live generously.

Put another way; God gives generously because of who He is and we live (including giving) generously because we cannot out give Him and are simply streams of His generosity for the entire world.

On our tree there is a simple ornament of a muted Mary and Joesph holding in their arms baby Jesus... THE Christmas gift... Hosanna... the God who saves us. Who knows how to give us good gifts. A God who will not be out given! Who dares us to live our lives with radical generosity that we would lay down our stuff... our lives... as He did... to love those around us as they are crying out to be loved... because He loved us that way first.

Who am I Lord, and who are my people, that we should be able to give out of such blessings as these? Everything we have has come from you, and we are only giving you what has come from your hand. Do Your mighty work Lord in our hearts. May we live as streams of Your generosity in this world that all would know that you are... and that You are the reward of those who come to You. Grant us the courage to live this way. We love you Lord, Amen.