Theme of the Week: The Goodness of Generosity
Bible Verse: “If I give all I possess to the poor… but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Saturday morning began early with a trip to Tim Hortons accompanied by my four-year-old. After picking up a coffee, a long game of ‘family’ ensued in that vacant parking. Elly climbed into the driver’s seat and took great joy in ordering me around (“buckle up,” “fall asleep,” etc.). We flew an airplane, drove, etc. She told me to change seats and locked me out while I moved. I was engrossed in my daughter’s world. Fatigue, fatherly duty, and my self-centered internal voice all seemed muted. She had my attention, and I was alive in our co-created imaginary world.
My Saturday night sounds like a joke; a couple of Christians, a Buddhist, and a Stoic walked into a pub. Our conversation was delightful and varied. We meandered to discuss a life of love and focused on motives from there. Much that goes by the name of love is fundamentally selfish and self-aggrandizing.
The apostle Paul agreed. He makes a surgical strike on counterfeit generosity when he writes, “If I give all I possess to the poor… but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3).
Love is always generous, but generosity is not always loving.
Academics and philosophers wax eloquently about whether it’s possible to do a genuinely selfless deed. Jesus invites us to die to ourselves, but He also promises “reward” and says His Kingdom is like a treasure buried in a field that we gladly sell all we have, just to get it. Jim Elliot famously quipped, “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Perhaps there is always a degree of self-interest in our generosity, but true generosity is motivated by love. Love doesn’t mean we don’t get anything out of it. Instead, love thinks of itself less and of God and others more.
At our best, we live like I played with my daughter. The voice of self-interest fades into the background; God and neighbor have our attention.
This crescendos in a question. In your generosity, are you more concerned with yourself, or are you enraptured with the glory of God and the well-being of others? Love is always generous, but generosity is not always loving.
Prayer: Lord, free me from the self-centered inner dialogue that often clutters my thoughts. Awaken me to what You’re thinking and to the needs of others. Free me from my self-centered story and lead me into your larger story. Help me focus on the good of others today. Amen.
Reflection: Think of a moment in the past week when you loved others without thinking much about yourself. Ask God what He wants to teach you from that.
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