"Your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians 9:11).
Have you noticed how gratitude and generosity are connected? People who see their possessions as a gift from God show gratitude. They are full of thanks. Since they recognize God as their source, they worship Him as Owner and Provider. They see themselves as stewards and managers of God's stuff.
This attitude of gratitude makes them more generous. Their gratitude overflows into gracious giving.
My next door neighbor recently illustrated this to me. He knew a landowner that had some downed hardwood trees that he was willing to give to anyone that would get them off of his property. My neighbor asked if I wanted to go with him to get some of the wood.
"Man, I wish I could. With this cold winter, I could really use the firewood. I'm going through that oak I bought really fast. But I'm so busy, I just don't have time to cut it, haul it, and split it." I said, shaking my head.
"Well, if you change your mind let me know. We're going out this Saturday to get some." He answered.
"Thanks." I replied, while heading back to my yard.
A couple of weeks later, imagine my surprise when I answered the door to my neighbor standing there with a big smile on his face and a load of freshly cut wood.
"Hey neighbor! I brought you some firewood." He said, gesturing towards the stack. "Open up your garage and let me load you up." He continued.
"What?" I finally managed. "You don't need to do this." I insisted. "You've worked so hard." I said, shaking my head. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're a good neighbor and I'm being neighborly." He said through a big grin. "Besides, I got the wood for free and I want to share it with you. Now, let's get this wood in your garage, it's cold outside."
That evening, the fire in our fireplace seemed to put off more warmth than usual as we combined my neighbor's freshly split poplar with our remaining oak. Every pop and crack of the fire inspired gratitude in my heart.
People who have a hard time being generous also have trouble with gratitude. I guess that's why we say "thanksgiving," because "thanks" and "giving" go together.
Now, pardon me while I put another log on the fire... hmm... nice.
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