Living Life to its Fullest (January 19, 2009)

God loves us and wants us to have the fullest life possible. The irony is that the Bible tells us the more we give, the more we receive. God calls us to a life of generosity. This was clearly modeled in the New Testament. The whole church enjoyed unity and generosity. Acts 2:44-45 says, "All who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."

However, there were also very poignant examples of those who did not live a life of generosity. We see one such example in Acts chapter 5, the documentary of Ananias and Sapphira. They sold a plot of land, gave some of the proceeds to the church, held back the rest, and lied by stating they had given it all away. Bad things happened - but I'll leave it to you to check it out.

In this passage we see the condition of their heart and where they put their faith:
1. They clung to their possessions.
2. They agreed to lie about their giving.
3. They pretended to be someone they were not.
4. They thought they could get by with 'appearing' to be generous.
5. They felt more concerned with their own outward image than with their inward relationship with God.

Many of us struggle with the same issues - I did for years! We think that if we grasp and cling to our possessions, through our own cleverness, we will eventually 'make it'. But God's economy is radically different. He is an extravagant Lord who gives generously to anyone in need. He enjoys meeting the needs of His followers, both directly and indirectly. He doesn't merely give of His resources, but also of Himself.

Effective Christians gather for others, then give it away. I once heard a secular version of this philosophy, "You can get anything in life you want, as long as you help enough other people get what they want." The Bible even states in Ephesians 4:28 that one the reasons we are to work is to share with those in need.

Consider the following ways to cultivate a spirit of generosity in your own life:
1. Be grateful for what you have.
2. Put people first.
3. Don't allow greed to control you.
4. Regard money as a resource to invest in others.
5. Develop the habit of giving.

In recent months, nothing has brought greater joy into my life than to begin practicing these principles. Prior to that, I had a tendency to hold onto my possessions because I feared I might run out - life seemed scarce. Does this sound familiar? Do you sometimes feel the same way?

But when we begin believing that giving is the way to live, we actually begin producing more - and life becomes abundant. This is the life that Jesus had in mind for us as He states in John 10:10b, "I have come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly." This isn't just a statement about eternity, it is a statement about how to live right now.

So change your outlook on life and begin changing the world around you. Practice the principles of generosity outlined above. Begin living a life of generosity in all that you do and you'll begin living life to its fullest!

Please post a response below or email me at csonger@new-communitychurch.org.