God calls us to whole-life generosity, which is a life overflowing with kingdom provisions and released to God for His glory, our blessing, and the benefit of others. Whole-life generosity begins with a right relationship with God based on His unconditional love for us, where His love overflows to those around us. Such a life is lived with faith.
Living with faith is a life where, out of the lavish provisions of God, believers are empowered to overcome their fears of scarcity resulting in giving boldly. Simply put, faith is placing confidence or trust in someone or something. What, then, is the opposite of faith? For many doubt would seem like the obvious answer to this question. However, when we understand faith as placing confidence or trust in someone or something, we realize that, as Scripture teaches, fear, not doubt, is the opposite of faith. The medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas explained that fear causes us to look inward focusing on ourselves. From such a posture it is nearly impossible to love, give, and serve others. He believed, “fear drives compassion right out of our heart.”
So, what is the remedy of fear? Putting our faith in Jesus overcomes fear by ending its siege and breaking down walls. Faith means trusting that God loves me and will not let ultimate harm come to me. Therefore, we find these words in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” As we embrace God’s love and trust in His faithfulness fear diminishes allowing us to live with faith.
There are at least four realities that allow us to live with faith:
- We are able to live with faith when we trust God, and His love for us, being empowered to overcome fear. Trust in God is what opens our hearts and empowers us to give ourselves generously to others.
- We are able to live with faith when we willfully surrender control of our life and entrust our self into the hands of God. Faith is believing the promise that no matter what happens, God will not let you fall (see: Heb 11:1).
- We are able to live with faith when we trust God even when He says “no,” believing His purposes are more loving and His grace more abounding than we can imagine. When our Lord says “no” to our desires, it is because He loves us too much to say “yes.”
- We are able to live with faith when we realize today is the only place we may experience and trust God. Much of life is lived rushed. God calls us to experience Him in the present where our trust in Him releases any fear we may have of tomorrow and believing He will provide for our daily needs. This empowers us to live a life characterized by whole-life generosity.
Faith is surrendering to God’s goodness, love, and power. It means releasing ourselves into His care. Here is the crucial question: What step is God calling you to take so you can live with faith?
It is my honor to serve alongside each of you. Let us encourage one another to live with faith. Let us trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness, so that, fear will diminish and our faith will grow exponentially leading us to live with whole-life generosity. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!