Por Todd McMichen

Como las familias pasan más tiempo juntas en estos días, me hace soñar con los pasos masivos de discipulado que podemos ayudarlos a tomar.

Hace varios años, el Grupo Barna llevó a cabo un proyecto de investigación sobre cómo ve cada generación generosidad y había muchas diferencias.

Sin embargo, un hecho sorprendente que saltó de la pantalla fue el descubrimiento de que es muy probable que los niños criados en hogares generosos vivan generosamente cuando sean adultos.

En este momento, COVID-19 es brindar oportunidades diarias para vivir generosamente tanto dentro como fuera de nuestros hogares. Además, la misión de la iglesia debe continuar incluso durante una crisis.

Nuestra gente está viviendo el reino justo donde está y este tema de vivir generosamente como familia es bastante apropiado en nuestros hogares.

En realidad es una cuestión de salud tanto emocional como espiritual. Hace varios años se hizo un estudio titulado La paradoja de la generosidad.

Encontró repetidamente que las personas que vivieron vidas generosas eran más sanas y felices que aquellas que vivieron vidas menos generosas.

Las personas generosas crecieron más, tuvieron relaciones más satisfactorias y vivieron con un mayor sentido de propósito de vida. Ayudar a nuestras familias a comenzar a mirar hacia afuera podría ser justo lo que todos necesitamos.

Las familias generosas son honradas a lo largo de las Escrituras. El estudio Family Generosity en realidad se basa en un Salmo. Note cómo este versículo describe la generosidad familiar.

Hablando del líder en el hogar, “siempre es generoso, siempre presta, y sus hijos son una bendición”. ( Salmos ‭37:26,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬ 

Generous parents reap kids that are blessings to others. When you think about it, what an honor for our kids to bless others. The word blessing doesn’t simply mean to make someone feel good or encouraged which is important, but it speaks of the presence of God ministering to another person. 

When we live generously as family members we are allowing God to work through us. We are bringing God’s presence to another. Let’s help families be blessings.

Then we can think about the Mary and Martha story. These sisters both lived generously one day, however in two very different ways. 

Mary practiced generosity of presence. She sat to listen to Jesus. Just listening to someone in this season is really important.

Good listeners help people feel heard and valued. It relieves our stress. Job, for instance, could have used a powerful dose of generosity of presence from his friends. 

Now Martha, her form of generosity was different. She was a doer, which ended up stressing her out. This is probably going to happen in homes a lot during these weeks. We are so grateful for doers and need to learn how to support them well.

Finally, let’s consider one of my favorite giving heroes in the Bible: the boy with the fishes and loaves. The need in the city that day seemed huge. The church leadership team, namely the disciples, couldn’t figure out how to resource it. 

However, this little boy and Jesus had it all figured out. There actually ended up being far more than enough, which was a testament to the disciples because they each picked up a basket full of leftovers. 

This crisis will definitely have moments that feel overwhelming. The need within our homes and communities could be massive.

This might lead us to look at our budgets becoming pessimistic, but the Jesus factor will need to be added to the equation. He promises that he already has it all figured out.

As soon as we can, we need to turn our families from potentially focusing on all the changes resulting from COVID-19 to living the simple message of generosity in our homes and through our homes. 

The church isn’t gathered, but we have definitely scattered. Right now, your people have many opportunities to grow together while practicing spiritual disciplines. The discipline of generosity can soothe frayed nerves as well as extend the gospel in their neighborhoods.

TODD MCMICHEN (@ToddMcMichen) is Director of Generosity & Digital Giving at Lifeway and author of Leading a Generous Church: Making Disciples without Chasing Money.

Lifeway Generosity has produced a digital sermon and small group series called “Family Generosity.” You can find it at Lifeway.com/GenerosityResources. Here is a 50% off coupon code to help with your purchase during this generosity season: HALFOFFGENSTUDY.

You can find more information about our free digital giving resources, at LifewayGenerosity.com/coronavirus.