Reflections of a Follower of Jesus
by Clay Porr
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Do you want to give cheerfully and generously? As we saw last week, if we have a heart like God’s we’ll want to be part of what He’s doing in the world around us. We’ll love what He loves. We’ll be excited to give to further His work.
[Read more…] about The Foundation of Generosity – 2 Corinthians 8:9by Clay Porr
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:5-7 (NIV)
What does giving generously mean? How much should I give in order to be generous? Do I have to tithe (give 10%)? Do I have to give until I have nothing left? These are all good questions. But, in this passage the Apostle Paul isn’t focusing on the size of our gifts. Rather, he’s concerned about our attitude, our heart in giving. Generosity begins in my heart, not my wallet.
[Read more…] about Give Generously – 2 Corinthians 9:5-7by Clay Porr
Do you enjoy giving? For most of us, the answer depends on the circumstances. If we’re giving to a loved one, we usually enjoy it. If we’re dropping some change or a few bills in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas, we’re probably glad to be able to help. If we’re giving to the IRS . . . well . . . “cheerful” is not the first term that comes to mind; and we usually don’t think of paying our taxes as “giving.” What about giving to your church? Do you do that cheerfully, or is it more of a chore or duty for you? [Read more…] about Give Cheerfully – 2 Corinthians 9:7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
by Clay Porr
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
Being entrusted with something valuable is an incredible privilege and an awesome responsibility. We feel honored that someone trusts us with something they value, but we also recognize that we need to act in a way that honors, rather than betrays, that trust. Our goal is to please the one who entrusted to us what is valuable to them.
[Read more…] about Faithful Stewards – 1 Peter 4:10-11by Clay Porr
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
Researchers tell us that we need about 10,000 hours of practice to become proficient at something. Most people who spend that kind of time perfecting their skills feel proud of their accomplishments.
Of course, no amount of effort can make up for a total lack of innate ability. Some people aren’t built to run fast. Others will never become world-class musicians no matter how much they practice. Few people are as intellectually gifted as Einstein. But, when we have an ability, and when we work hard at developing it, we like to think that we deserve the credit for our efforts.
[Read more…] about 10,000 Hours – 1 Peter 4:10-11by Clay Porr
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
What do you do well? Sing? Teach? Paint? Cook? Design? Write? Encourage? Think? Organize? Entertain? Pray? Lead? Something else? Each of us has multiple gifts, talents, and abilities. What are yours?
Here’s a slightly more difficult question: Who or what is the source of your abilities? Where did they come from? Who should get the credit for them?
[Read more…] about The Source of Our Gifts – 1 Peter 4:10-11by Clay Porr
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
Are your gifts more of the up-front type or are they more behind-the-scenes? Do people notice when you serve, or do they take it for granted? Our celebrity-oriented, media-driven society tends to place a higher value on talents that are exercised in public; and that can send the message that our less-glamorous abilities are also less important. But that’s not the way God sees it.
[Read more…] about Public or Private Gifts? – 1 Peter 4:10-11by Clay Porr
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Whom do you serve? That may seem like a simple question; and, on the surface, it is. I serve the people whom I’m helping. If I’m helping my daughter with her homework, I’m serving her. When I’m preparing food in the kitchen, I’m serving the people who will eat it. If I help a co-worker with a project, I’m serving him. The answer to the question of whom I serve is usually pretty obvious . . . except when it’s not.
[Read more…] about Whom Do You Serve? – 1 Peter 4:10by Clay Porr
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:12 (NIV)
Forgiveness is rarely easy, whether we’re on the giving or receiving end. On the receiving side, we have to agree that we’ve done something wrong. Sure, the other person may forgive us even if we don’t admit our sins. But, we won’t experience the freedom of being forgiven if we don’t think we’ve done anything wrong. Asking for forgiveness means swallowing our pride; and that’s not easy to do.
On the giving side, forgiveness is difficult because forgiving someone costs us something. Financially, forgiving a debt means that we no longer demand repayment; and that means we’re bearing the financial cost of that unpaid debt. Relationally, forgiving involves bearing the pain of the offense without requiring anything from the person who has offended us; and that’s not always easy to do.
[Read more…] about Forgive Us Our Debts – Matthew 6:12Updated by Clay Porr
Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11 (NIV)
Most, if not all, of us know where to find our daily bread. If it’s not in the kitchen or pantry, we can get in a car and drive just a few minutes to any one of several stores, each of which has more loaves of more varieties of bread than much of the world can imagine. We know the source of our daily bread, don’t we? Not necessarily.
[Read more…] about Our Daily Bread – Matthew 6:11