More. We use this word quite often. We always want more of something. For me, it’s time. I want more time with that loved one. More time get the to-do list done. More time to rest. Time is ever escaping, yet it is what I desire.
We always want more. Maybe for you it’s food or friends or space from the screaming children or money or possessions. It can seem as if we’re hardwired to desire more. In a sense, we are. We were created to be filled by our Creator, but our sin has left a God-sized hole in every heart. For believers, we know that we have been filled with the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ sacrifice and our faith. Now, rather than desiring more of the world, we’re enabled to be filled with Christ and give His love freely to others. This is where we’ll find the more we’re looking for.
Jesus calls all believers to be generous. When I hear this, I can often equate it with giving away money to those in need. While that is one way to be generous, we are actually called to be generous with everything we have.
For moms, we can often feel as if we’re already giving everything we have to the littles in our homes. Hear me say, you’re already doing so much to care for your children. Jesus is not calling you to give so much of yourself that you are burned out. Rather, He is calling you to take an evaluation of your time, talents, and treasures. How are you using these to glorify God and furthering His kingdom?
Generous with Your Time
Being generous with your time can mean so many things, especially as a mom. When you think on your day, where is the majority of it going? If time with you was the only time your kids would hear about Jesus, would they know who He is? Do you take those teachable moments as opportunities to point your children back to their Savior?
Our time is precious, but it is not our own. God has sovereignly placed you where you are at this exact moment for a reason. It is no mistake that you have the neighbors, family, church family, and acquaintances that you do. God is calling you to use whatever time you have to live out your faith and show others who Jesus is (Ephesians 5:15-17). This could be through spending time outside with your kids and interacting with your neighbors or the other moms at the park. It could be sacrificing a few hours in your week to spend pouring into other women or children at your church. It could be saying no to scrolling on your phone so that you can spend time with your kids or in God’s Word.
Though it may feel like a sacrifice sometimes, it will never be a waste to use your time to further your relationship with Christ or further His kingdom. What a gift it would be for your kids to grow up seeing mom valuing God’s church, God’s Word, and God’s people above the things of the world.
Generous with Your Talents
Being generous with your talents is another way to steward what God has given you. For me, I love to cook and bake. One of the easiest things I can do is to make a meal for someone in need. Some of you might read that and think, “That’s what delivery is for.” Cooking may not be one of your talents, but God has gifted you in a way to serve those around you.
How can you begin to use your spiritual gifts, hobbies, and general likes to welcome others in or provide a way to share the gospel? If you like going to the gym, don’t just see it as time for yourself but time to potentially engage with others who are also working out. If you have the gift of teaching, consider starting an LGG Bible Study or a kids study with your neighbors or with women that you know.
God has strategically gifted you for His glory. Don’t miss the opportunity to steward your talents well.
Generous with Your Treasures
Finally, we can steward our treasures. As mentioned earlier, this may be the first thing you think about when discussing generosity. Everything we have is a gift from God. It does not belong to us but to Him. I think about the early church and how they gave all that they had to those in need within the body (Acts 2:45).
God has called us to give of our money and possessions not because He’s wanting to merely take things from us. Rather, He is wanting to remind us that He is sovereignly in control and can be trusted with what we have. It is also a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Christ.
For some, generosity is as easy as getting up in the morning. For others, it is an exercise of faith to be generous with our lives. Being generous is a way to grow our faith and trust in the Lord, and it’s a trait we have the privilege of showing our kids how to incorporate into every aspect of our lives. As Paul writes, generosity leads to being “enriched in every way” (2 Corinthians 9:11).
Let’s study God’s Word together!
This blog post is part of our Grace-Filled Motherhood series. Learn more about the study and join us for encouragement and growth.
