Written by Guest Contributor, Brian Davies | February 16, 2023
When I was in high school, my friend Geoff’s house was the house that we hung out at the most. I don’t exactly remember why his house was our home base, but I do know that we hung out there a lot. There were four of us, and to this day we are still tight. We watched sports and played ping pong and street hockey, and we ate. And we ate a ton! Four high school boys can eat! Sometimes we’d grill burgers, but mostly we raided the family refrigerator and freezer. And Geoff’s Mom kept it stocked! Pizza rolls and wings were some of our favorites. I never thought much about this growing up, it was something we just did.
Sometime later, I became an adult and went grocery shopping. I don’t remember when it was, but one day it struck me as I walked through the frozen foods aisle – those grocery bills must have been enormous! We raided that freezer regularly without giving any thought to the grocery tab. And I’m not sure I ever really appreciated it or was appropriately thankful! Sorry it took so long to say this, Mrs. Hunter, but thank you!
I can’t think of the word “generosity” without thinking of my good buddy Geoff’s mom. She gave and asked nothing in return. She never pointed out how much it cost, asked us to contribute or complained about it. She just generously gave us this gift.
This is a portrait of the love and generosity of our heavenly Father. He gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, and asked nothing in return. We don’t have to, nor can we, earn his favor. It’s just given. And Jesus gave without pointing out the cost (his life!) or complaining about it. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). We have a generous God; it’s just who He is.
Fast forward to today. My wife and I have three kids, and they all have friends that come over. And inspired by what was generously given to us, we keep the freezer well stocked! As the well-known old hymn goes, “Freely, freely you have received; freely, freely give.” We have a generous God; may it be who we are!
Bio:
Brian Davies serves as Pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL, and as Chaplain for the Grayslake Fire Department. Rev. Davies graduated from Concordia University River Forest (now Concordia University Chicago) in 2002, studying communications and biblical languages, and then went on to earn his Master of Divinity at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He and his wife, Beth, have three children: Kate, Megan, and Luke.
