LIVING THIS THING CALLED LIFE (PART 1)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded.

Ecclesiastes 11:1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11, God’s word offers us a series of recommendations on how to live this thing we call life. There are many ways to live and so the only way we can ensure we are doing it right is to allow the Lord to guide us and so I hope you’ll enjoy this series of devotions.

The first thing of importance in the way we live our lives centers on generosity and I couldn’t think of a better starting point when it comes to talking about life and how we’re expected to love it. Look at verse 1 of this chapter:

Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded.

Note here that we aren’t told by the word of God to try and be generous or to be generous when it suits us. No, we are told to be generous. Period.

God’s people, and every person belongs to God, are to be people of generosity.

There’s a reason God wants us to live this way. For someone who lives in the spirit of generosity is not centered on themselves but rather others and how they can help make a difference when a need arises. They don’t hesitate to give their time, talent, and treasure to provide assistance to another. And in doing so, a generous person models the perfect personification of generosity, Jesus Christ, the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).

It was Jesus who gave us the following command regarding how we are to be generous to others when He said:

Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:8b

Think about it. Jesus died for all mankind, freely giving up His own life to pay the price for our sins and give us the opportunity to live forever in what was the ultimate expression of generosity. He gave it all and then gave us everything in return. We’re to do the same in the way we live, and yes, that means even dying for another if it meant to save them. You may remember Jesus also saying this:

Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25

Living for Christ means living self sacrificially, even losing life if need be to accomplish His will. Indeed, everyone who submits themselves to Christ, allowing His life to lead them to generosity, will be rewarded one day with a life that will never end. Those who opt to reject Christ and His generosity will simply die and life will be over.

Friends, the word of the Lord calls us to be generous and through Jesus, we will always carry out that call as we live this thing called life and await the heavenly reward yet to come.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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