Read Psalm 37:21-26. 21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; 22for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; 24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
Are you righteous? What about generous?
According to Psalm 37, these are essentially the same question. The righteous person is generous and the generous person is righteous. To be righteous in the Old Testament was to actively uphold the character of God. And God is generous. God is a giver. He blesses and never forsakes; he upholds and never casts headlong. This is why the righteous, the godly, are generous and give. They lend generously and so do their children.
In Christ our righteousness is much more but no less than such generosity. God and his child, Jesus, have become mankind’s greatest blessing through their generosity. God so loved that he gave his only son. And Jesus became poor that we might become rich. It would be impossible to even imagine a holy and just God without this kind of generous self-giving as part of his character.
And yet often we can imagine, and even actualize, a Christian life without the same generous self-giving. But if Christ gave all things to us, including his own righteousness, can we not imagine a life where we too are able to give, bless, and lend with delight?
To live is Christ is to selflessly give, and to do it from a delight filled faith.
You: How generous are you?
You in Christ: How does knowing all that we have been given by God in Christ allow us to also give freely and generously?
Christ in you: Where can the generosity of Jesus in you be displayed today? Who do you know that has a need that you can meet?
Pray: Father, you gave generously all things to us, even your own Son. I know I will never be forsaken, never be a beggar in your kingdom. Teach me to give as you give, freely, without demanding payback. Amen.
To Live is Christ 