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"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Christ Church of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ, is a mega-church with 12 locations. This church has given almost $2 million to help many suffering from depression and stress. They began the initiative in 2019 as a way to help with the stress of the upcoming election year, but little did the church know that in a few months, the world would go through a pandemic. CCV agreed to fully pay for the first 10 sessions of counseling and then pay half of the next 10. Over 4,000 people responded through the Press On campaign the church launched, giving over $1.98 million. I think this is absolutely wonderful!
Rachael Schmidt who oversees pastoral care at the church states that the church is open-handed and also has helped other churches follow their example. As a result, so many people have received much-needed Christian counseling, and some have come to faith in Jesus.
(Source.)
I love stories like this. Many churches and individual Christians have adopted this lifestyle of giving which can be summarized with the following phrase: "and then some". This approach to stewardship embraces generosity as the guiding principle. Our biblical text for today teaches us very plainly that those who give bountifully will also reap bountifully. This is not a health and wealth gospel I am peddling but the clear teaching of the Word of God. Simply stated, the degree to which you give is the degree to which you will be blessed. Jesus put it this way in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Ashley and I experienced this principle yet again a couple of weeks ago while we were at the airport getting ready to fly to Orlando for a conference put on by Dunham + Company. (D+C is a wonderful company that helps so many non-profit ministries strive toward excellence.) While checking our bags at the Southwest Airlines counter, Ashley spoke to the man who was helping us. She invited him to visit our church and then gave him a $20 bill. Since we were some of the last ones to board the flight, we knew we would be separated from each other. But that all changed when the same man Ashley blessed at the ticket counter met us at the gate. He escorted us onto the plane, and we were some of the first to board the flight! We were able to sit together at the front of the airplane.
I have yet to meet anyone who regrets being generous. It is a wonderful way to live. You do not have to be wealthy to be generous; as my friend Johnny Hunt points out, you simply have to be generous. How generous are you with your money, time, and gifts? Are you someone who hoards what you have, or do you scatter as Proverbs 11:24 encourages us to do: "There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty."
Believe me, you will not regret living a life guided by the motto: "AND THEN SOME". Try it today! Be generous! It is a blessed way to live!
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