From Guest Blogger Kathleen Lane:“She has such a big heart.” I’ve heard that said about a certain woman in our congregation. “Sue” is a real people-person who can even make strangers feel at ease. She seems to know what people need and how to go about helping them. She is generous in sharing her time, money and possessions — and in opening her home for guests, gatherings and study groups.
If you ask Sue where her big heart comes from, she would say, “It comes from God’s big heart.” She’s right! Generosity and hospitality start with God — perhaps the best-known Bible verse, John 3:16 says it: “For God so loved … that He gave.” God’s big heart leads Him to big giving.
Our Vacation Bible School students sang about God’s big heart this year. If you ask one of them they might show you the actions and dance that go along with these words:
He’s a big, big God! He’s big!
With a big, big heart! He’s big!
With big, big blessings just for you and me!
God shows His big heart as “He richly and daily provides all that I need to support this body and life” (from Martin Luther’s explanation to the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed). God gave best when He met our greatest need for a Savior from sin. It is in receiving the Gift of Jesus Christ that we become givers, too. God not only generously blesses us with His gifts, He also gives us the power to be givers. In a world where the common concern is in getting, God grows our hearts big for uncommon giving.
As seen in Sue, generosity and
hospitality are indicators of a big heart. Generosity is seen as we give and
share what we have to meet the needs of others. Hospitality is seen as we
welcome others and open our homes to be used as places of support, friendship
and fellowship.How have you shown generosity today? Without going all Martha Stewart, how can you open your home to others in the next several weeks?
Prayer: Father God, You are the most generous Giver. Grow our hearts big so that we can be givers, too. Amen.
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