Give Generously

Andrew Stevens

March 19, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra • Proverbs 3:9, 2 Corinthians 9:7–15

The offering plate passes by, and you watch others put in change and envelopes. Your school asks for volunteers to serve as tutors to the younger grades, and nobody raises their hands. A friend comes up to you after class, and you realize they asked you to pray for them two weeks ago, but you forgot. As Christians, what does giving generously look like in our everyday lives?

Giving has always been an important characteristic of God’s people. All the way back in the book of Genesis, Abel gave God “the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock,” and God “accepted Abel and his gift” (Genesis 4:4). Then, later in the Old Testament, God called the Israelites to be generous in many ways, including to set aside one tenth of their agriculture and animal production (Deuteronomy 14:22-23).

For Christians today, it isn’t as cut and dry as a simple 10%. Instead, these Old Testament passages show a general principle of giving our first and best to God—of making Him the center of how we use our money, time, and talents. Giving back to God is a way to show we trust Him to continue to provide. This will look different for everyone, but the principle is the same (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Giving generously serves as a reminder that every blessing we have comes from God (James 1:17). God Himself is generous: He has given us Himself— Jesus (John 3:16; 10:25-30). Without Jesus, we are sinners, so generosity doesn’t come naturally to us (Romans 3:23; 6:23). As Christians, we have the opportunity and power to be generous because we have God’s Holy Spirit working in us (Galatians 2:20).

But what if we feel too young to give? In God’s kingdom, no one is too young, and no gift is too small—whether that gift is money, talent, or time (Luke 21:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:12). Jesus has redeemed all of it. Because of what He has done, as Christians, we are free to glorify Him in everything we do, including in our giving (Colossians 3:17). • Naomi Zylstra

• What questions do you have about giving? Who is a trusted Christian in your life—such as a pastor or a friend—you can bring those questions to?

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NLT)

What Does Jesus Want Me to Do with My Life?

March 31, 2020 • Aurora Scriver • John 6:40, Philippians 3:7–14

What does Jesus want me to do with my life? . Have you ever asked that question? I know I have. There’s so much pressure to know what you’re going to do before you even leave home. And at the same time—both a blessing and a curse—there are so many options. . It’s honestly anxiety-inducing. What if I make the wrong choice? What if I choose something outside of God’s will? . Good news: If you know Jesus, you’re already in God’s will. It’s not some nebulous, ethereal, fountain-of-youth thing. It’s living each moment of your life in light of what Jesus has done to free you from sin. . It means devoting the little and big things in your life to serving Him. You find God’s will by understanding who He is. And that can be found in His Word, the Bible. If something isn’t sinful, you can do it in freedom—and to the glory of God. That’s the point, actually. . So seek to honor God in all your choices—the big future ones and the little everyday ones. Study His Word, talk to Him about everything, and be in community with other Christians—in other words, get to know Jesus. The more you know Him, the more you’ll know His peace. Some days will have you feeling more anxious than others, but He’ll be with you every step of the way. • Aurora Scriver . • If you know Jesus, how does knowing you’re already in God’s will change your perspective about the future? . • What are some big decisions you are facing right now? Small ones? How does your faith in Christ affect those decisions? . • What are your favorite Scripture passages to read when you are anxious about upcoming decisions? . • What people in your life can give you Christ-centered wisdom about hard decisions? . For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:40 (CSB)

Redemption in a Rubik's cube

March 30, 2020 • Allison Wilson Lee • Philippians 2:12–16

I had finished my six-month dental checkup and was walking back to the waiting room at the dentist’s office. To pass the time before my appointment, I had brought my Rubik’s cube. I’d been practicing with it, and I had solved two sides that day as I waited to get my teeth cleaned. I didn’t want to bring it into the exam room with me, so I left it on a small table in the dentist’s waiting area. I planned to grab it on my way out after the checkup was finished. . To my surprise, the Rubik’s cube I discovered after my appointment looked far different from the one I’d left in the waiting room. No longer were the two sides I’d solved gleaming in their bright, uniform colors. Somebody had come in after me and jumbled all the squares. What I had worked to create, someone had undone in the short time I’d spent having my teeth cleaned. . In a similar way, because of our sin, we’ve jumbled the lives God created and gave to us. On our own, we could never solve the mess we’ve made with our sin. But God has plans to restore and redeem. . Christ’s death in our place—paying the penalty and punishment for our sin— gives us the opportunity to begin a relationship with our Heavenly Father as forgiven new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we turn to Christ and entrust our lives to Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the restoration begins! We won’t remain mixed up and jumbled like that Rubik’s cube I left in the dentist’s waiting room. . God is faithfully working out His plans to restore us as His people and to one day make all things new—free from sin and death (Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11, 23-24; Revelation 21:1-8). As we walk with Him day by day, He is fulfilling His good purposes in our lives (Romans 8:28-30). • Allison Wilson Lee . • No matter how big of a mess sin has created in your life, God can redeem that mess. To learn more about how Jesus restores and redeems, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . • As Christians, how can remembering the restoration God is accomplishing encourage us when we struggle with sin (Ephesians 2:1-10)? How does belonging to Him move our identity away from the things we do and to the things He has done (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21)? . For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

Stand in the Gap

March 29, 2020 • Christiana Cudworth • Ezekiel 22:26–31, 1 Timothy 4:12

Wow. Ezekiel was a prophet in Israel at a hard time to be following God! The priests, the government, and pretty much all the people were committing all sorts of evil. Nobody cared about God. God couldn’t find anyone to “stand in the gap”—to fill the void of righteousness in Israel (Ezekiel 22:30). . Sound familiar? Following God has always been hard because our world is broken by sin. When people and society as a whole reject Jesus, evil is accepted and encouraged, including by religious leaders who claim to be following God. It’s hard to find true, sincere, fully committed Christians—people who are determined to know God and follow Him with all of their hearts. . In this broken world, what does it mean to really follow God? What does it mean to “stand in the gap”? It’s an even harder question when you’re young and wondering, What can I do now? Good news: in Jesus’ kingdom, age is not important (1 Timothy 4:12). . But how do you stand in the gap in such a sin-filled world? By seeking Jesus, who is God (Titus 2:13). You stand in the gap by knowing Him, the One who is righteous (or sinless) even when your actions are not (1 John 1:9–2:1). You grow in your understanding of this good news by talking to God through prayer, studying the Bible (His Word), and regularly gathering with other Christians to worship Jesus and encourage each other in your pursuit of making Him the center of your lives. . If you’re a Christian, you are a part of the next generation of God’s people, who know and love Him and share the good news of His kingdom to a world that needs His rescue from all that is evil. • Christiana Cudworth . • Who are strong Christians you know—people who have centered their lives on Jesus? How can you follow their examples (Philippians 3:17)? . • Jesus is the One who stands in the gap for us. Without Him, we can’t stop sinning. But Jesus took God’s just wrath on Himself. Those who put their faith in Him are wrapped in His righteousness; it is like they have never sinned (Isaiah 59:16-19; Romans 3:22-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could these truths encourage you when you see sin in yourself and in the world? . Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)