When I consider the magnetic effects of gracious giving, four qualities immediately emerge. First, grace is so attractive: Grace individualizes the gift. When you give by grace, you give individually.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Stewardship
Hidden Greed
The prophet Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, was the bearer of news the Syrian officer, Naaman, did not want to hear. As a result, Naaman threw a fit. But do you know what later happened to Naaman?
Read MoreBeing a Giver—Is Worth It?
Shortly after World War II came to a close, Europe began picking up the pieces. Much of the old country had been ravaged by war and was in ruins. Perhaps the saddest sight of all was that of little orphaned children . . .
Read MoreServants Give Generously
The Christians in the Macedonian churches were servants who gave to the needs of the believers in Jerusalem, giving anonymously, in fact. Paul . . . also mentioned something else about those Macedonian servant-saints.
Read MoreServants Give Anonymously
When Paul made his way through Europe, specifically the region of ancient Macedonia, he announced to the churches in that area the financial need of the church in Jerusalem.
Read MoreMoney Can’t Buy Everything
Foolish indeed is the person who considers himself safe and sound because he has money. . . . And another reason it’s foolish to trust in riches for security is that money, in the final analysis, brings no lasting satisfaction.
Read MoreSavor Satisfaction
The good life—the one that truly satisfies—exists only when we stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is rather than longing for what might be.
Read MoreChecking Up on Your Job
A young fellow rushed into a gas station to use the pay phone. The manager overheard his telephone conversation as he asked: “Sir, could you use a hardworking, honest young man to work for you?”
Read MoreReal Riches
From the looks of things, you’re pretty impressive. You’ve got a nice place. And I suppose your neighbors would agree that you’re a hard worker . . . climbing right on up that ladder toward success, right? . . .
Read MoreThe Sting of the Thorn, Part Two
We’ve been talking about Jesus’s parable in Mark 4:1–20 about the farmer who sows seeds in four different types of soil. As I mentioned in Part One, I’m bothered by the third group because thorns come in and destroy the healthy growth of the Christian. It is interesting that the thorns were already present at the time the seed entered, and that the thorns were never completely out of the picture even though the seeds began to take root (Mark 4:7).
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