In God's Economy – Generosity (part 1)
7 Dec2008
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Generosity – the antidote to greed!“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GENEROSITY, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23
“Bear one another’s burdens…let us not grow weary in doing what is right…So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…” Galatians 6:2, 9, 10
What is Greed in the first place?
In the Bible, the book of Ephesians tells us that greed is idolatry (Eph 5:3-5) , and is to have no place in the life of believers of Jesus Christ. In fact, one who is greedy has no “inheritance in the kingdom of God”. In response to this we are instructed to be careful how we live, living as wise people.
Such extreme words perhaps, but it seems there is something about greed that is destructive, not just to an individual but within community/society as well. In our current climate globally, we are seeing the effects of greed – WE ARE IN CRISIS!
The UK government has decided that the way to deal with this is through a 2.5% cut in VAT, and to increase our country’s debt to a staggering £118 BILLION… I can’t even fathom that…and will certainly run out of fingers in the process of trying to count it all!
What is the motivation behind this move?
Guess what? It’s to get us spending. Yes, that is our governments answer to economic crisis, cut VAT in the hope that we will think we have more money and go out and spend! I’m baffled. What does our government think? They must presume we are all stupid. Perhaps we are… since, our society seems to function on this principle of materialism and consumerism. It is what has given us security – our material possessions.
I don’t think this will help in the long run. Our country will still be in debt, people will still be losing their jobs, lazy people will continue to take advantage of the social security system, we will still be paying high taxes, and feel the government has once again let us down. WHY DO WE FEEL LIKE THIS? Why do I feel like this? Why do I have this sense that I am just being fobbed off? As someone who is British, I see again how our leaders have failed to find a way forward that models integrity. Rather they have encouraged us in our pursuit of idolatry, in our greed. In light of economic crisis, in light of the “credit crunch”, in light of the hundreds who have been made homeless recently because of failure to keep up on their mortgage payments, in light of the thousands who are now unemployed…LET US ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND…I shake my head in disdain! Are they so far removed from the reality of my current life?!
The Bible really has an amazing amount to say about greed, being lovers of money, taking advantage of the poor and needy, it is not ignorant of the reality and destructive force of greed. Contrary to what I see the UK government doing, the Bible and my faith offer HOPE. It does promise that these kind of things will not last, and such people will not make much progress in the major scheme of things.
I am glad about that. I am glad that despite having the equivalent of less than £20 in my current account, I can see hope. I can know that there is a Sovereign God, who despite the greed and failings of man, can give me a hope that stretches beyond current economic greed and corruption.
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