Time, Generosity & Sacrifice

Posted: August 26th, 2010 Category: christian

Generosity is a willingness to give and some nobility of thought or behavior. Even our government incentivizes certain categories of generosity by offering tax deductibility. Yet, there is another word in our language which should be included with generosity; that’s sacrifice. Generosity almost always involves some degree of sacrifice by the “givers” who’ve chosen to share time, their most precious resource or something else they have “extra” of like food, clothing, shelter or money. Donations, even without real sacrifice are noble gestures, but even more so when done anonymously. Generosity with sacrifice, generally benefits only the recipients since the sacrifice involves giving something away at a loss or forfeiting it entirely for something else perceived as having greater value. Our current definition of sacrifice was by dramatic example, amended a couple of thousand years ago to include the concept of “selflessness”.

Our new world example of combining sacrifice with generosity, which set the model for modern times came from God through the holy trinity. I can not fully explain the functionality of the holy trinity or for that matter the relationships between; mind and body, some family units, the creation and creator or of natural things and human nature but I can intuitively understand the inseparable connections inside of these examples. With of few moments of thought anyone can rationally grasp the examples of generosity and sacrifice evidenced by someone choosing to; leave the comfort of home (heaven and the power and glory that it represents) to walk with human kind and teach while simultaneously inviting and accepting harsh accusations, threats, ridicule, rejection and unimaginable torture for the greater good of offering love, forgiveness, knowledge and peace to others. This generous sacrifice carried with it, the opportunity for eternal life with the most benevolent being of all times. Another gift of immeasurable value.

With that stark example always fresh in my mind, I regularly challenge myself to become more generous. To care more deeply about the larger family of humanity and to employ personal sacrifice for a greater good as a desired component of my life. I’ll admit, I’m still not very good at this, but I hope I’m making some progress. I’m not sure who first said, “give till it hurts” but it’s one heck of a challenge to keep in mind. Time may be the only thing that we think we can’t replace, there-in hoarding it more than other things, but if we can understand His offer, God also PROVIDED a solution on the subject of time. Sacrificing time for the “right” purpose today, might become a fantastic investment tomorrow.

JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
Find the Wisdom reflected in Nature through our 4 Natural Reflections “Journey” Series of Video-Books.