|
News for the Pews |
Home
24th July 2024
WednesdayReflection
************************
Randy Alcorn, shares
author of Giving Is the Good Life
'Is generosity more than meets the eye?'
Are you living the good life?
************************
If not, I know you wish you were.
People define the good life in different ways, but everybody wants to live it.
After all, what's the alternative? Living a bad life?
A pointless, guilt ridden, or miserable life?
A quick online search reveals that most people's idea of the good life includes happiness.
That makes sense - nobody wants to be unhappy.
What if God not only wants us to live life more abundantly, as Jesus put it, but also provides clear instructions for how to actually experience it?
What if it's possible to discover what to embrace and what to avoid so we can live a meaningful and fulfilling life - the good life - even in this broken world?
Does that sound too good to be true? Actually, it's both "too good" and true.
We live in a world that screams, "Make lots of money and spend it on yourself, and you'll be happy. That's the good life!"
There's just one problem. It's a lie.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus repeatedly turned our definition of the good life on its head.
For instance, he said, "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving".
We all need food to eat, a place to live, clothes to wear.
But once our basic needs are met, money can easily stop helping us and start hurting us.
According to CreditCards.com, the average American has nearly $16,000 in credit card debt.
The average college student graduates with $40,000 in student loans, and some with far more.
This is the very opposite of the good life.
It's the terrible life!
In fact, if you want to be miserable, greed and stinginess are the perfect recipe.
Those who hoard their money, like those who spend it all on themselves, are the unhappiest people on the planet.
Jesus calls us to do something radical: love others by giving away our money and time. That sounds like loss, not gain.
Yet in God's economy, that's exactly how we can expand and enhance our own lives.
Suppose I give up two lunches out each month in order to support a child in Haiti.
There's nothing wrong with meals out, and I may miss them, but thoughts of how the money helps a needy child flood me with happiness greater and far more enduring than twenty minutes of pleasure from a drink or eating out.
We will explore the good life as God defines it and discover what Jesus meant when he said,
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly".
The first step to finding life is clear: we need to place our trust in Jesus.
Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'"
Once we believe in Jesus, what can we do to experience the abundant life - a life overflowing with vibrancy, satisfaction, and contentment?
Though we've been granted eternal life, many Christians don't fully experience what Jesus came to give us.
The stresses and pressures of life weigh us down.
We lose both joy and purpose.
Life becomes a drudgery, not an adventure. It's a shrunken life, not a flourishing one.
If that's where you find yourself, take heart.
True, it's not possible to eliminate difficulties and challenges until we're living at last in the world we were made for (the New Earth, not this one).
But we certainly don't have to wait until we die to experience the abundant life Jesus promised.
The bad news is that loving and serving money will destroy us and rob us of life and happiness
The good news is that if we recognize God's ownership of everything, we'll steward our resources to help meet physical and spiritual needs.
Our reward will be both future rewards and present contentment, purpose, and what Scripture calls "the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19, NIV).
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
'Welcome to The Arc!'
For us, it's the soul-reaching power of a good story. This is why we started The Arc.
The Arc is not just a blog; it's a home for great stories, deep thoughts, and touching revelations and insights on faith, literature, and lifestyle.
What does it mean?"
"Arc" can mean so many things in the world of stories or publishing. You have story arcs, which are the unfolding of story elements throughout a book.
There are 'advanced reader copies' called ARCs, which are early releases of a book for influencers, endorsers, or the press.
Plus don't forget Noah's Ark. It's not related - but what a great story from the Bible!
Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM).
Prior to starting EPM, he served as a pastor for fourteen years.
He has spoken around the world and has taught on the adjunct faculties of Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
His nonfiction works include Happiness; Heaven; If God Is Good; Managing God's Money; Money, Possessions, and Eternity; The Treasure Principle; The Grace and Truth Paradox; The Purity Principle; and The Promise of the New Earth.
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|