The Greedy Truth

Day One hundred twenty-five: 30 day challenge. Day nine.

Passage. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

My thoughts upon reading. These stood out: "and through us your generousity will result in thanksgiving to God." (v.11b), "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift." (v. 15). Generousity begets thanksgiving. Give to others. They thank God. Sharing the blessing of thankfulness. Hmm. And in regard to v. 15, I was excited to see "his indescribable gift" because I've frequently wanted to accurately describe His gift on here as I give thanks, but find it extremely difficult to find the words. Good enough words. Thorough enough words. Complete words. Indescribable it is.

Challenge thoughts. Paul's trust in God's supply is noteworthy. Grateful people are generous people...in all times. Even hard economic times. Frugal people can be grateful people. Frugal people can be generous people.

Challenge. Is gratitude motivating you toward any acts of generousity? Pray and give.

Hmm...generousity is difficult for me. I hate to admit it. I don't want to. I'm afraid of your judgment. I hate being wrong. I am wrong. I think about giving often, but don't and I have a variety of excuses. Here's a few of my main ones:

• My gift isn't as good as someone else's might be (food that you might not like, service you could do better yourself or someone else could do better)
• If I give it away I might not have it when I need it (I sometimes call this being practical, but I know it is a lack of faith in God's provision)
• There already isn't enough how can I give away what I don't have (usually in terms of money - but not really even true unless I was unwise with it and that's why I don't have "enough")
• I don't have anything worth giving in this situation (letting the particularness of a situation do the dictating)
• I don't have time (gross. I'm not making time. If it matters, I make time.)

These excuses are bad. I'm ashamed of them.

I'm reminded right now that generousity is more than just material. It is also time, affection, attention, effort, and help. I don't think I'm very good with these either.

I'm blessed in a enormous amount of ways. Material and not. I've been on the receiving end of so much generousity, directly from God and indirectly through people. Why do I so often refuse to return it? I am thankful, but I seldom offer others opportunities to be thankful because of my generousity. This needs to change.

Thank you, God, for pointing out this problem of mine so specifically. Please help me to stop making excuses. Please help me to have faith in you. I have no reason, no excuse. Thank you for providing for my every need and making me RICH. Thank you for allowing me to be generous. Please help me to take you up on the opportunity. Show me ways I can give. Thank you for the people who have been examples of generousity in my life. My sister and her husband, my parents, Jason's parents, the Berrys, the Bowmans, Nanny, the Crosses, the Broyleses, the McDaniels, the Lewises, the Cormodes, Angie, Miss Beth, Joan...and on and on and on. They all are generous in different capacities. Thank you, God, I think you've already shown me many ways through them.




What's this about? I decided on my birthday to make a commitment to being intentionally thankful. I challenged myself to post one thing I am thankful for everyday this year.