On Sunday morning, I was in Birmingham so I found myself at Church of the Highlands instead of being at Cross Point for the culmination of Faith, Hope, and Love. And candidly I was somewhat relieved because Pete Wilson has been packing each Sunday full of punches straight to my gut.
God has been seriously speaking to me this year about my finances, or as he keeps reminding me, His finances.
I grew up surrounded by wealth. (Really for those living in the United States and reading this on a computer screen, we all grew up surrounded by wealth.) And I’d be the first to admit that generosity is not something that comes naturally to me. Well that is not quite accurate. I am generous with my time and with my knowledge, but not so much with my money or my things. I tend to act all stingy, like they are “mine.”
But for some reason this year God has said “enough.”
First through watching several friends go to India on the Compassion Bloggers trip, next through the pages of Richard Stearn’s The Hole in Our Gospel, then through Catalyst’s 143million.org campaign, and finally Sunday at Highlands through guest pastor Robert Morris.
The pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas, Morris was introduced as “the American pastor who most embodies the concept of generosity.” His message was simple enough, “give extravagantly.” But it’s funny until Sunday, I only thought of extravagance as a descriptor for your living, not your giving.
So here I sit knowing that I need to be more faithful, more generous, and even more extravagant with my giving, but wondering what in the world that looks like. I have a feeling that it looks a little more sacrificial and a little less dutiful. Ouch!
Anyone else struggling with this?
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