A Generous Heart: What It Looks Like!
2 Samuel 24:24
NIV
[24] But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
A generous heart is a heart that loves beyond measure, a heart that goes the extra mile and this is what David demonstrated as recorded above.
Ordinarily, anyone in his shoes would accept Araunah’s offer or gift, but David knowing what He intended to use the property for, declined.
Instead of accepting a gift he insisted on paying because the property was meant for the service of God. David wants to feel it deep down in his heart that he made a sacrifice.
He wants to demonstrate to God his personal deep appreciation of whatever God has done for him! Such thoughts and acts come from people who remember where they are coming from, and who helped bring them to their present status.
I’ve seen, read or heard of people who in their bid to show their deep appreciation to someone who has been a source of great blessing to them either build a house, buy a car, sponsor a trip /holiday etc these they do from their toil and labor.
But why, some may ask! Well, there is a feeling of inner joy, and satisfaction that one has done something. I remember on my return from studies abroad I looked out for the man whose nurturing, guidance etc facilitated my winning the scholarship that took me abroad.
It took me a long search and inquiry to find him because he had retired from public service and no one knew his whereabouts! I could have given up the search and excused my conscience since there was no clue to finding him.
But I was determined to show my gratitude since whatever I’ve become was a result of his coming into my life. The transformation my life went through I owe it to him.
It is important to note, it is God who does everything but He does them through humans! God answers prayers, yes he does it through the agency of Man so it is not a sin to thank anyone through whom God answered our prayers!
The case of the Ten Lepers reminds us of the lesson of gratitude!
Anyway, the key lesson from David’s example is we must show our appreciation to God in a way or manner that will make us feel we have done something! A memorial!
There was a time when a prophet told some who faced a similar situation;
Micah 6:6-8
NIV
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? [7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Read what they were told and asked to do, ( obedience )
[8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Here are some examples of what we can do from David’s account as read above. He was buying the property to be developed as a place to house an altar for God!
2 Samuel 24:25
NIV
[25] David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
We can do the same, by buying pews, chairs, Bibles, pulpits etc; artefacts for use by the church. Whatever one can think of as a show of one’s appreciation for what God has done
Have you not read or heard of someone building a house for his parents as a show of gratitude? A thing of value that cost them a lot yet they did it.
What have you done for God, or for someone who has greatly impacted and transformed your life? Something you did and felt satisfied in spirit.
“Remember your class one teacher” was an inscription I read written on a trotro many years ago! Another was “ Girl bî Ntî!” all meant to direct our thoughts and a debt of gratitude!
Do you have a heart of gratitude, let it be seen through your deeds. A generous heart is a sacrificing heart! A heart that appreciates and does not take things for granted.
My Random thoughts!