(Written to go along with a sermon on Matthew 20:1-16)
When we think about positive character traits, one of the ones we value most is generosity. We might appreciate that someone is intelligent or witty, but still not like him very much. However, we are drawn to or attracted by someone who is generous. Think about it. If you walk through the cemetery and see the words, “He was intelligent” on a tombstone, you’ll probably conclude that the person who wrote them didn’t like the deceased very much. On the other hand, if you see the words, “He was generous” you’ll get the impression that the deceased was missed and mourned. In fact, there are only a few character traits, like love and kindness, which we value more than generosity. On the flip side, we are repelled and disgusted by selfishness. There is something within us which doesn’t even like ourselves when we are being selfish.
What is generosity, anyway? There are at least two forms of it. The first is the giving beyond what is necessary. We even have special words to express the concept like “lagniappe” and “baker’s dozen.” Who doesn’t appreciate it when the store owner slips a 13th doughnut or cupcake into the carton when you only ordered twelve? The Bible expresses this kind of generosity in these words: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.” (Proverbs 11:24-26 NIV)
A second form of generosity is treating someone better than they deserve. I’m sure many of us can think of times in our childhood when we disobeyed or didn’t listen to our parents’ instructions. We deserved punishment. There was no question we had it coming, but though our parents didn’t overlook what we did, they chose to lessen the consequences. They showed us generosity. Some kids learn the wrong lesson from not receiving the full penalty. It emboldens them to do further wrong. But for most of us, our parents’ display of generosity made us love them more and helped us to want to be more obedient. God is like that generous parent who treats us far better than we deserve. King David put it this way in Psalm 103, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:8-14 NIV)
In spite of what David wrote, we sometimes find it hard to remember how generous God is. Let’s face it. Life isn’t fair. Sometimes things happen to us that are hard. People can be cruel. Sometimes people take advantage of us. They break promises. The innocent are hurt. It often seems like those who do wrong get away with it.
I think this is one of the reasons Jesus instituted the ritual we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Each week the bread and the juice remind us of God’s generosity. He gives us far more than He needs to. And, He is far more lenient to us than we deserve. Whenever we begin to feel ill-used, or like God doesn’t care, the Communion helps us regain the right perspective. The Apostle Paul writes, “…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:31-34 NIV)
Just as Paul said, if God loves us so much that He gave us His own Son, how can we ever think that He isn’t going to supply the rest of what we need, and far more than we deserve? Today, as we eat the bread which reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, and as we drink the juice which reminds us of Christ’s blood which spares us from receiving the penalty for our sin, let’s thank God for His generous gifts.
