Sharing skills to be stronger together

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 

– Hebrews 13:15,16

REFLECTION

Generosity through community.

Being in a community is important to us as human beings. We are a social species. We collaborate. We are comfortable in the sharing of our space with others. There are times, often when we are young and at school, where we are surrounded by hundreds of people who we may describe as our close community. At other times, it may just be one other, but having that space where we feel ‘at home’ with someone else is essential for our continued health.

Our church can be this also. A place where we share with one another, often outside of the normal social boundaries, in such a way that builds each other closer together and closer to God.

Developing these communities is important not only for our wellbeing, but also for helping us share God’s love with greater impact. Communities of generous believers can practically achieve more through having more hands at work. However, just the very act of a group of people from different backgrounds and ages, is a statement of generosity that shows the world the character of a generous God.

Sometimes it’s tricky, but these communities of believers sharing life together is our calling.

David Stout, Regional Giving Advisor (North)

ACTIVITY

Who are your people? Take some time to reflect on those around you, with whom you share your faith journey. Pray for them individually and collectively for how you may follow God’s call in your wider community today.

A Generosity service

Helping yourself can help others

Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

– Matthew 13:31-32

REFLECTION

Think about a time you received something from someone else. What opportunities were there for you to use the gift your received to help another? Is it enough to just say ‘thank you’ when we receive something, or does one good turn deserve another? What do many small acts add up to? Could we ourselves turn a mustard seed into a tree?

In our reading, Jesus tells us that small beginnings can have wide reach.  If we can act generously as a response to the generosity we have received, we can be the seed from which wide branches of generosity can spread out.

When we are low, it can feel hard to feel like we have anything to offer others, when in fact, even simple acts like listening and talking can be small offerings of generosity that lift others around us. 

God assures us that we can rely on him to lift us up when we are down. God is love, and his love is always with us. With his strength we can give forward of the many gifts we are blessed with. Just as Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as he loved them, so our small acts of generosity can spread God’s love to others and throughout the wider world.

– Helen Simpkiss, Regional Giving Advisor (South)

ACTIVITY

Reflect at the end of the day on everything you have been given today by others. In what ways can you give back to these people?