“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
Who was the most extravagant giver of all time?
I remember one extravagant gift I will never forget. After Gary Player won the US Open at Bellerive in 1965 to complete the fourth leg of the Grand Slam, he gave away 100 percent of his prize money.
Probably the largest known giver of today is Warren Buffett. In the last 10 years he has given $24.5 billion to the Gates Foundation. His net worth is approximately $84 billion. He says he plans to give away half of his wealth to philanthropic organizations before he dies. He is 87.
To grasp how much money $24.5 billion dollars is, imagine stacking one-dollar bills one on top of another. How high do you guess it would rise? If you guessed 1600 miles, you’d be right. Stacked side-by-side, the dollar bills would reach from Washington, DC, past Kansas City.
Giving of ourselves puts Jesus at the top of all extravagant givers.Giving money is one measure of generosity. But there are other kinds: Giving of one’s time, possessions, and the most challenging, ourselves.
Giving of ourselves puts Jesus at the top of all extravagant givers.
He gave his life.
“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 by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV)
How rich is Jesus? “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1, ESV).
The Father has willed the earth and everything to Jesus. He owns it all.
All those who confess Jesus as Lord have been willed a parcel of land, so to speak. We, by his matchless grace, are joint heirs. We’ve been made part of his royal forgiven family by God’s generosity.
You may recall that I mentioned in November that each month my wife and I choose a virtue we concentrate upon. This month its generosity.
Some of you have heard of the idea of having a life verse. Mine is Luke 6:38, our central scripture today.
Sometimes it’s difficult to decide not only to whom you should give (or to what cause) but how much.
CS Lewis said, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare… If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.”
May we follow Jesus’ example of extravagant generosity during this Christmas season for the glory of God.
—
Jim Hiskey
December 10, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.