Christ > CoronaSample

Blessing #6—Teaching Us Generosity

I suspect that 2020 will throw us the slowest pitch the Christian church has gotten in a long time. Our prayers for revival might be answered if we swing for the fences.

What am I talking about? Money.

If the current economic climate gets worse, people’s financial lives are about to fall apart. Jobs will be cut. Income streams will dry up. Businesses will close their doors. The last time I checked, the Dow Jones line graph looked like a rock dropped from the edge of the Grand Canyon.

And that could be our opportunity. If we trust our Provider, dig deep, and sacrifice our wants for the sake of their needs, the church’s light could shine more brightly than ever before. The old stereotypes of churches just wanting money will go out the window once the church gives its money to those left wanting. 

Paul preached this same message while encouraging the Corinthian Christians to give: “... others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” (2 Corinthians 9:13)

We confess the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that God gave his one and only Son, the same Son who gave his one and only life for our sins. What if we accompanied our faith in our generous Lord with a generous gift to our communities?

Would people finally listen to the gospel we preach? Would their walls come down long enough to listen? Would they be forced to give up their objections and give the church another chance? Would they simply ask us, “Why?”

If just one person hears about the cross, wouldn’t it be worth it? It would be proof, once more, that Christ > Corona.