“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” ~ Mark 10:17-22
REFERENCE:
The world may not agree, but religion has significantly influenced man’s engagement with his society. In most cases, it has tamed his propensity for evil and appetite for the forbidden. This is even more accurate with life in Christ Jesus; Jesus came to make us new men with the nature of God. Giving is the most prominent expression of God’s nature: “For God so loved the world that He gave….” If you believe in Jesus Christ, be like God, and let your faith be a generous religion.
From our reference text, a rich young prince approached Jesus to check the eternal security of his religion. Upon Jesus’ interview, we see that the man religiously kept all the commandments of Moses. He did not covet, steal, tell any lie, or cheat anyone, and he honored his parents. Out of love for him, Jesus showed him that his religion was empty because it was not generous.
It is possible to be very religious and not be generous. Any religion that does not touch the pocket is no religion; it is an empty lip service or a dead ritual when it does not place any demands on your substance (the sum of your sweat and future security). Scripture enjoins true religion to use wealth to care for the disadvantaged and poor: “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is to visit widows and orphans in their affliction” (James 1:27).
Parting with wealth for godly or religious purposes says to God that you trust Him as your source and not your sweat or effort. It means you see God as your future and security, not what you have stored up or invested. The rich man left with a sorrowful heart because he could not imagine parting with his money. His action showed that his religion was all mouth and ‘show;’ it lacked heart and generosity. Our ability to part with money for our faith reveals true sacrifice.
God wants His children to have great possessions; however, His children are often too tied to their possessions to part with them to serve a kingdom mission. Do you give to God regularly, deliberately, and proportionately to His blessings? Does He have a say over your finances? Have you slacked in supporting God’s work in your local church? You may say, “I don’t have enough,” but if God can get money through you, He will get it to you. True religion is a generous religion.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
II Corinthians 9:6-10, Matthew 6:24 & Galatians 6:9.
PRAYER POINTS
+ Pray for a healthy balance regarding honoring God with your substance; you will not withhold good from God’s work or others when it is in your power to do it.
+ Uproot every root of selfishness in your life, and declare that you are prompt to heed the instructions of God.
+ Lord, give me the capacity to practice a generous religion – generous towards God and man.
