A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Extravagant Generosity



Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” Luke 19:8-10)

In his book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Bishop Robert Schnase writes, “Instead of giving God the leftovers at the end of the month, tithing is a spiritual discipline that puts God first” (p. 105). Extravagant generosity strengthens faith. People who give more worry less about money: “[G]enerosity enlarges the soul, realigns priorities, connects people to the Body of Christ, and strengthens congregations to fulfill Christ's ministries” (p. 106).

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