Nougat 15

Jamaican artiste Ernie Smith is well known for his song, ‘Life is just for Living’, which encourages the listener to take things one day at a time. Sometimes that advice is spot on; but it doesn’t always factor in the impact our attitude towards life has on the future. Let’s consider today’s Holy Nougat in that regard.

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭6:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Obviously, Paul desires that Timothy and the church under his jurisdiction should experience the joys of life. He opted to prioritize a mindset of generosity rooted in wealth of character and not just financial wealth. That, of course, is not found in a lackadaisical approach to life, as it is centred around plans for the future.

If Paul’s premise is true, it asks that each of us seeks to have our character defined by our care for others, our joie de vie (zest for life), generosity as well as an understanding that true wealth ought to be relationship-driven. This can be read as an extension of Jesus’ exhortation during the Sermon on the Mount for us to treat others as we would love to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

While this does not encourage any of us to be pushovers, it does invite us to rethink some decisions and actions we take as we factor in the greater impact on those around us. (We can also extend it to include our physical environment and not just people; as some aspects of the climate crisis is as a result of human greed and selfishness.) With all the developments in the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, a quick opportunity for practicing this is through our care for those who are sick, recovering and grieving. We can take a care package approach, or keeping in touch via technology in addition to the safety measures proposed.

We may also give attention to those in need – immediately around us; in states where there’s evidence of need or in countries like Cuba, Haiti and St Vincent. It may be by way of great financial support, the widow’s mite or in kind; every act of kindness matters. Can we allow godly generosity to be our trademark?

May the world know us by our Love

—

May all we seek be found in Christ