A Community of Generosity
35 In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ’You’re far happier giving than getting.’” 36 Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. 37And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. 38 They knew they would never see him again – he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship. Acts 20:35-38 (MSG)
The intimate connection between Paul and the church of Ephesus was not accomplished through multiple programs, coercion, manipulation, or exploitation of position. No, instead it was “life on life” as Paul laid down his life for to serve their walk and growth in the Gospel. Now three years later he was surrounded, not by members of a congregation, but by family, by ’Ohana, by a group of people who would lay their lives down for their Savior and for each other. This is what happens when people stop serving themselves and walk in the footsteps of the Master Jesus learning to serve each other in a community of generosity.
This past Sunday, Cyndi and I were surrounded by our congregation in much the same way as described here. Now, we aren’t going anywhere, but they wanted to thank us for serving the church for seven years. We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived at the church Sunday night. We did know that God had surrounded us with some of the most amazingly generous people we had ever had the privilege of knowing. In fact on the way to the church we began to tear up just thinking about New Hope’s amazing people. When we arrived with our five boys we were immediately immersed in the hugs and smiles and the smells of all kinds of amazing food that everyone had made and brought. They then ushered us to a table reserved for us filled with all kinds of treats and cheeses and meats. We were blown away! Then the people just kept coming and the food just kept coming and we had no idea that this many folks would come out on a Sunday night! Everyone is so busy and under so much pressure to make ends meet. So to have this many people come to show us their love was extremely humbling. The fact that my boys were included in the festivities meant even more. Just when we thought that was more then enough were invited to move from the Cafe to the Sanctuary because there would be multiple presentations of thanks and some hilarious roasting as well: From young to old, from pictures to poems, from songs to dancing, from cards to gifts we were overwhelmed with one of the best evenings of our lives. We laughed, we cried, and laughed and cried at the same time. When we got up at the end of the evening to thank everyone Cyndi and I could hardly talk. We weren’t looking out at a congregation, we were looking out at family, at ’Ohana in the best sense of the word! More then a celebration of the Burgess bunch, it was a celebration of what God can do with a community of generosity. He took a bunch of strangers from different backgrounds, traditions, ages and races and made us one through the transformative power of generosity. Jesus knew what He was talking about when he said it is better to give then to receive. We have received back so much more then we have given. Thank you Jesus for this amazing group of people who You will use to come in the opposite spirits of the day, fear and scarcity, and connect the reality of Christ to everyday life through the generous life!
