In this Thanksgiving edition of our weekly Wednesday newsletter, Scott reflects on gratitude, and how it connects to generosity. How will you be generous in this week of thanks?
Dear friends in Christ,
This week, those of us in the United States will probably be thinking about Thanksgiving Day. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a day set aside to give thanks for our many blessings, even in a culture which often seems reluctant to slow down the consumer machine for anything?
There is, of course, a deep connection between gratitude and generosity. One leads to the other. Generous people are more grateful, and grateful people are more generous. I encourage you to read the assigned epistle for Thanksgiving Day from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. It includes this line, “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
There is, of course, a deep connection between gratitude and generosity. One leads to the other. Generous people are more grateful, and grateful people are more generous. I encourage you to read the assigned epistle for Thanksgiving Day from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. It includes this line, “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Jesus also taught us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Our treasure leads our hearts. How we spend or save or give away our money forms our hearts. If we want our hearts to be generous, we will practice generosity.
As we gather for Thanksgiving, I commend a deep sense of gratitude for all the blessings God has given us. But I also urge you to practice generosity. Generosity and gratitude are two sides of the same coin. How can you be generous this Thanksgiving? Maybe there’s a neighbor or a friend who would be eating alone; invite them for Thanksgiving with your family. Maybe there’s a family you know who struggles to make ends meet; give them a gift card to get an early start on their Christmas gifts or maybe a boost for their Thanksgiving meal. A local charity probably could use your gift. Your church is a place where people gather to meet Jesus Christ for transformation and renewal; what might your church need?
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Forward Movement also welcomes your gifts so that we can provide words of hope and Good News to prisoners, hospital patients, the armed forces, and nursing home residents. But I encourage you to make a local gift where you can build up a relationship, if you are able. Whatever you give, your generosity today will magnify your gratitude tomorrow.
I wish you every blessing of grace, gratitude, and generosity.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
Today’s sale item is I Will, With God’s Help, a collection of meditations by Bo Cox–just $9 until midnight.
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