by
Gordon MacDonald for Generous Giving
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"[A wife of noble character] opens her arms to the poor” (Proverbs 31:20).
In an ancient world where male dominance pervaded so much of the culture, Proverbs 31 is a refreshing description of a remarkable woman who rivals any nobleman mentioned elsewhere. As we anticipate that women will learn well the principles often ascribed to godly men, so here we assume that men will understand that they have something to learn from a godly woman.
This woman is an effective and productive person. She's an organizer and a deal-maker, has a nose for value, works hard, and is respected by those who know her. But it’s clear that she’s something more. She possesses a quality of inner life that causes her husband to have complete confidence in her judgment and her children to praise her. Strength and dignity are words that any of us would like to have ascribed to us. And we’d like to know that people are anxious to hear (as they were in her case) “faithful instruction” as it comes from our lips. She is quite the woman: she fears the Lord.
This remarkable person is known for her compassion. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy. This is far more than simply writing a check or endorsing a charity. This woman engages those about her who are suffering. She knows them, touches them, is familiar with how they live and what difficulties they face. She opens her arms and extends her hands.
The generous giver tempted to do something less needs to ask himself (or herself) an important question: How pleased is God if I sit at my desk and apportion my wealth, but do not extend myself to other people? Can we use this simple sentence about a noble woman to remind ourselves that God—the first generous giver—did not send his people a video, a grant-in-aid, or a “professional”? He sent his Son--which is tantamount to saying he gave himself.
Some like to call this “incarnational theology.” The term is impressive and appropriate. But behind it is the simple truth that generous giving has a lot more embedded in its concept than just money. It calls for the giver to be incarnated in his or her gift. And this is where we have begun to talk in these days about social entrepreneurship—the gift that includes not just money but my acquired skills and my energy. The generous giver is present among those to whom he gives. Now we are beginning to understand the meaning of sacrifice.
© Generous Giving, 2002. Used by permission of Generous Giving. All rights reserved.
Generous Giving is an educational stewardship ministry that seeks to encourage givers of all income levels—as well as ministry leaders, pastors and teachers and professional advisors—to fully understand and embrace what it means to live generously, according to God’s word and Christ’s example.
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