Generosity is Biblical
When God gives us a vision to carry out on the earth, I believe He has called other people to walk alongside us to be a part of the vision too. When we can communicate to others about our ministry in a way that allows them to respond honestly and authentically, it will give them the opportunity to take ownership of what God is asking them to do by giving of the resources He has entrusted to them. The resources your partners are giving will help further the work of bringing others into a right relationship with God. By giving, they are investing in the work of Christ!
It is clear that generosity and giving are major themes throughout the Bible. The phrase, “a fragrant offering,” is highlighted in two different areas of Scripture to describe our giving to one another, and to define Christ's gift to us through the cross. We see the first description in Philippians 4:18 (NIV) where Paul wrote to the people of Philippi saying, "I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied now that I have received the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God," and then in Ephesians 5:2 (NIV) when he wrote to the church of Ephesus, "And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
It is important to recognize the Greek phrase, osmen euodias, meaning fragrant offering, is used to describe the way we give of the resources God has entrusted to us, and then used again to describe Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. This parallel shows us that these are not two different types of giving, but one in the same, highlighting the incredible value that God places upon our generosity toward others. God is using the same word to describe your capacity for generosity, as the word He is using to describe His generosity through giving Christ as a sacrifice for us. I think it's safe to say God cares about generosity.
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