By LARRY P. STOVER | Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene

For the sake of discussion, let’s divide the people of the area into “givers” and “takers.” We seem to be raising a generation of individuals with the demand, “What’s in it for me?” I’ve had people through the years who attended church with a similar attitude: “I’m here; make it worth my while, or I’ll find some other place to go next weekend.”

In the process of this paradigm shift people are becoming quite miserable. When we fall into this mental trap, we allow ourselves to become dependent on what others can do for us rather than on what we can do for others. People are all about instant gratification. If a fast food meal isn’t delivered in 60 seconds, I’ve seen people fly off the handle in a fit of rage.

For many people they see God as a “taker” as well. They see the Christian faith as a long list of “do’s and don’ts” with the major emphasis being on the don’ts. “Followers of Jesus don’t have any fun.” “Why can’t I be a Christian and keep doing what I want to do?” “I find that I’m just as close to God at the beach as I am in church.” “All they want at church is my money.” These people miss the whole point.

In that kind of atmosphere, may I offer to you a “God who is a giver!” God has done so much for me in my life. The blessings and miracles could fill this newspaper. My relationship with Jesus Christ generates the most exciting experiences anyone could enjoy. Having enjoyed being a Christian for 55 years, I still don’t know why people are hesitant to accept Jesus Christ into their life as Lord and Savior. It still catches me off guard when someone says, “I’m not interested.”

The Lord is such a giver! Trying to prove that God is a giver is like trying to prove that LeBron James can play basketball. God has always been generous to His people. His love for his people has always been out of this world.

In fact, He never runs out of generosity. Lamentations 3:23 gives us a clue, “God’s mercies are new every morning.” His grace is not like the sunset that fades away. The Lord’s generosity keeps coming and coming. When you wake up tomorrow there will be a new batch with your name on it. Not only tomorrow but that promise is for next week, next month, next year, and forever. God is going to keep knocking you over with His generosity. That is love at its greatest!

Maybe that is why we still love to sing the old hymn, “Amazing Grace.” The last verse still inspires, “When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.” This is just the nature of God’s generosity. For thousands of years into the celebration of eternity with Jesus Christ, we will keep on praising Him and He will continue with His generosity.

From the day you get serious about being a follower of Jesus Christ, you will discover that He is a giver. The more you learn about Him; The longer you live for Him; The stronger your commitment is for Him; The more you will worship Him and Thank Him for His generosity.

In a world full of takers, God sets the standard as a giver. That giving will never stop. The generosity of God makes life “Simply Beautiful.”