This blog is not an attempt to receive another offering. This is all about learning to trust God, and God alone. Nothing else.
Our Own DNA
Why do we find that some people are more motivated to give than others? I think it’s really simple. They know whose DNA they have and they are walking in it, instead of trying to alter their DNA and become someone else.
The following passages will explain what I’m talking about:
NLT | Ge 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….
NLT | Ge 1:27
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us….. “
… So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female, he created them.
God made us in His image with His attributes. One of those attributes of God, who is our Father, is that He is a Giver. We are made and designed to be like Him, do like Him, and act like Him. He designed us to be a Gift of Giving.
A Gift Is Given
When you give a gift to someone, you spent a great deal of time picking this gift out and you also spent your hard earned money on it. The person opens it up, then they begin to examine it, then they look back at you. There it is! You see it! You see the joy in their eyes first, then the joy in their face. You just gave the gift of joy.
But wait! Suddenly you feel an even greater joy welling up on the inside of you that goes beyond what you see in their eyes and face. This gift has now brought joy to both of you. Why? Because you gave this gift from a heart of gratitude. The key is very simple indeed. You did it because you love God and people. Right?
Radical Kindness and Giving
Radical is defined as departing from what is usual or normal.
Let’s put this into common language we can all understand. If others can look at what you’ve done, and they consider it extreme for you, then it’s radical. It’s not your normal way. Let’s look at it another way. Can they honestly say it’s very different from anything that has come from you before? Can they say it’s not anywhere close to anything you’ve done in the past? If so, then call it radical.
Kindness is defined as the practice of being kind, considerate, and helpful: being the source of joy.
The key word here is practice. Hold on to that word practice because I will come back to it later. Let’s once again define kindness in a language we can all understand. The noun kindness can be used for a kind act or to describe someone’s temperament. You might say of someone that his or her kindness is quite genuine, or on the other hand he or she fakes kindness to get what they want.
It’s Time To Ask Questions
When was the last time you gave of your money, time, gifts, and talents and others considered it radical? Then the next question would be, did you do it out of true kindness or was it fake? I love what church Pastor Rick Bezet, at NLC in Conway, AR, says, “Be real because fake is exhausting.”
Radical Kindness is over the top and it’s way out there for you. It’s got everyone saying, “That was genuine, they truly departed from what is usual or normal for them.” Let me say something else about Radical Kindness. To go Radical you must trust God and the . By the way, it’s one of God’s attributes: Radical Kindness.
One More Thing
I want to touch on one more thought in closing. Social reciprocity theory basically states that we treat others as we are treated. The truth is, more often than not, if people are nice to us, we are nice in return. However, if these people are rude, cruel, or unkind to us, we tend to do the same in return. We can all agree that the world could use more kindness, and I would say a lot more Radical Kindness at church and in life.
Wouldn’t you like someone to treat you with some Radical Kindness? How does the old saying go, “What goes around, comes around?” If we want to live in a community of Radical Kindness then we all need to do our part to make it happen.
Radical Kindness is a serious, purposeful, and may I even state, a very aggressive and high impact way to treat everyone (Oh! I do mean everyone) with kindness. It involves going out of your way to be gracious, offer a kind word or deed, or even your hard earned money to both those whom you know and to those you don’t. What makes this strategy radical is that you decide up front to treat people with kindness, even when they treat you poorly, rudely, or disrespectfully. By the way, don’t make the mistake and start ringing the bell saying, “I already do this.” I would challenge you to search your heart first. Does it say, “I practice this no matter who or what?”
Let the following passage speak to you!
Do you think you could do this? Are you brave enough to try it? Are you ready to practice Radical Kindness?
2 Corinthians 9:6–11: The Message
6 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop.
7 I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
9 As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
10 This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God,
11 wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
Continue reading on the North Elevation Church blog at Paster’s Corner in order to delve deeper into the topics of tithing and offerings.
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