I ran across this video from the Ellen show. If you will, take a few minutes to watch and listen very carefully.
There are a couple of moments that really stood out to me. One is when the single mom says that Ellen brings her to life. I thought to myself, “That”s really great. I”m glad you have someone who inspires and helps keep you going.” And I mean that sincerely, I”m happy for her. But then I thought of this…
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 (Message)
Jesus came to bring life, a greater life than any of us can even dream for ourselves. We need to point people to Him as the source of life.
The second is a spot at the very end. You can hear it if you listen carefully at the 6:34 mark in the video. Ellen actually quotes Scripture. Now, I don”t know if she meant to or not, but she quotes word for word from the Bible.
Be kind to one another… Ephesians 4:32 (English Standard Version)
And the generosity of Ellen is overwhelming. You don”t have to agree with every issue in her life. You don”t even have to agree with me about what I see in her. But what is really hard to disagree with, is the generosity of this woman and the joy she gets out of serving others.
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord”s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47 (New Living Translation)
Note some of the areas in bold. Key features to me in the success of the early church. Is there a connection between the moving power of God and the generosity of the people within a local body? Said another way, can God really bless our churches the way He wants to if we are the stingiest people on the planet?
I don”t think Ellen would consider herself a Christian by any stretch, but the things she is doing are the things we are supposed to be doing. So I want to challenge your generosity. I want to challenge you to pray toward and look for opportunities to be generous to those around you.
Sure, you”re not Ellen. You won”t be able to drop $15 G”s in someone”s lap most likely along with a brand new car. But there is that guy on the corner by your Metro stop that you could provide a warm breakfast to. There is a cup of coffee you could buy for the lady on the corner near your work. There”s a struggling mother with 4 or 5 kids running around in a store that you could volunteer some support and love toward. What about a neighbor who is struggling financially. Granted, you may not be in a situation to be able to pay his rent (or maybe you are), but you could maybe invite his family over for a meal, to be generous and open your home to his family.
Generosity doesn”t flow from Ellen. It flows from God. Our God who looks for opportunities to be generous with His children. Our God who took the steps necessary to bring us back to Himself. Our God who walked across the universe to die for us. And our God is generous toward us so that we will be generous toward others.
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God…And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, 14, 15 (New Living Translation)
It”s not time to be like Ellen. It”s time to be like the One we claim to follow and believe. It”s time to live out our faith and to be generous as God has been generous to us. It”s time to live like Christ so that people see God working in us and give Him praise. No glory to us, but to the One who is worthy of all glory and praise.
I pray you will find opportunities to be generous to others with all that God has freely blessed you with!