15 November 2011

The Imago Dei – In Christ Followers: Generosity


Greetings Dear Reader,

In pursuing a life that reflects the image of God in me I must always love.  From that love must flow an understanding that I am loved so deeply that I will be cared for by God.  All my needs will be met; not all my wants but all my needs.  In that God gives me everything up to and including his own Son.

He asks in return that I be generous.  Next week we set aside time to give thanks for all that we have been given.  So few will people will actually be giving thanks.  Thanksgiving has become so much more about food, family, and football.  We must engage with the Imago Dei in us be being grateful for the many things we already have. 

Even more we must be known for our generosity.  We must give to others from the abundance we have.  We must generously give to those in need.  We must not be satisfied to drop money in a plate whilst also dropping our responsibility.  The very idea of giving is that it must be personal.

The church in most cases as turned giving into a guilt riven guilt shedding exercise.  The act of giving is pushed by greed and entered into because of pressure.  The image of God in us gives from the heart with no guilt or remorse.  Since we know that God will supply all our need then we know that we have the resources from which to give to the needs of others.

When the giving in personal then it is possible for others to see Christ in us and perhaps catch hold of his ultimate gift.  We think that things are ours.  They are not.  All that we are given is to the purpose of giving to the needs of others with no fear that our own needs will go unmet.  Once again we are to be a conduit.  It is our purpose to be a reflection of the Imao Dei in our giving.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

1 comment:

  1. What a great subject for a post. I love when the church is generous as we can do so much when we are free with the resources God has shared with us.

    Speaking of being generous - I know you like to ring the bell on Christmas Eve, but how do you feel about ringing again with me a different time? It would be a fun way to spend some time with you!

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