Generosity

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.(Mat 6:22)

One of the biggest enslaving idol today is called mammon. Jesus has a lot of things to say about money; He warns of the danger of the love of it (Matt 6:24, 1 Tim 6:10) and provides a solution. No one can be more practical in handling issues as with our Lord.  In this context, Jesus is saying that love of money can cause us to lose focus and not be singular with regard to Him as our Light. We can become blind to people around us in greater financial need and become inward looking. The remedy is stated in the preceding verse ‘herefore when thou doest thine alms’ (Matt 6:2). He did not use the word ‘if’ but ‘when’. God allowed poverty (1 Sam 2:7) to exist along with those who have more than enough (the rich) that His mercy may be manifested through the generosity of His saints (Matt 5:7).

….. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

(Psa 41:1)

The trap of this form of idolatry brings, interestingly is darkness to the body. Show mercy that we will receive mercy, which is how He works (Psa 41:1-3). In our generosity we exemplify our trust in Him ‘who giveth us richly all things to enjoy’ (1 Tim 6:17); in this our getting more than enough (richness) ‘he addeth no sorrow with it’ (Prov 10:22). The problem of inability with regard to the issue of generosity is the issue of contentment (1 Tim 6:8). Poverty is the state of the mind, not the state of being (2 Cor 8:2).