Posts Tagged: Philippians 2:4
“Generous-Hearted People”
PHILIPPIANS 2:4
“Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.” (Philippians 2:4, Common English Bible)
My wife went out to a massive yard sale here in the RV resort in Sarasota. She was trying to pick up some bargains. However, there is a wrinkle: We are only going to be here a few more days, and we don’t have any room to take things back with us.
On the other hand, this is not a problem. My sweetheart isn’t buying the things for us. She is buying them to improve the unit we’re renting for the next person or persons who stay here.
That’s my wife! Frugal (hence, the yard sale), and generous. I am not always either of those two things (frugal and generous), but I’m much better than I used to be. This is thanks to the generosity and frugality modeled by many others—particularly my wife.
I was trying to think of some Bible verses that spoke of such generosity, but I was having a difficult time. So, I used a very twenty-first century approach: I googled it. And I found more verses than I can shake a big stick at. Certainly, I found plenty of them with which to do some experiments in obedience. (You may read them, along with some brief comments at the following site: https://www.womansday.com/life/inspirational-stories/g30539201/bible-verses-helping-others/, accessed 02-19-2022).
Take the one that leads off this post, Philippians 2:4. Paul reminds the Christ-followers in Philippi that one aspect of following Christ is generosity. I suspect that the Philippians needed to be reminded of this because they were becoming a bit selfish. Christians don’t have the selfishness market cornered, but we’re not immune to selfishness either.
This post, in fact, is a small step by me to be more generous. I haven’t been posting much of late. Sorry about that. I realize that some of you might not only enjoy these posts; you might even benefit from them.
So, here you are! You can thank my wife for her yard-saling-for-others approach to generosity. Generosity begets generosity.
How will you choose to be generous to someone before this day is done?
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
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- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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