One of my favorite movies is It’s a Wonderful Life. Toward the end of the movie, friends and family gather around George Bailey, who is desperately in need of financial help. Each person joyfully walks to a basket in the middle of the room and throws money in, as the crowd joyfully sings Christmas songs. The friends and family give sacrificially, but find great joy—even privilege—in doing so. After all, through their gifts their beloved friend will be rescued from disaster. It is a powerful and moving scene.
Have you ever given generously and been excited to do so?
God calls us to give and to give generously. But for most of us, this is not a joyous experience. We give begrudgingly or out of obligation. And when we give with this joy-less attitude, we also tend to give less. After all, if something is painful, we don’t want more of it.
This Sunday we will explore a passage in which God’s people generously and joyfully gave...and then thanked God that He allowed them to give. It is a beautiful glimpse into what can be possibly for us. It allows us to see what it might look like if we really had our perspective shaped by the privilege that we have been given when God invites us to give generously to His work.
Dan
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