Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Bible in a Year: Joshua 21-24 | Acts 2

It seems like every time I pick up my phone, I’m suddenly bombarded with ads trying to sell me the latest and greatest cure for what ails me, or warnings to buy more space before I lose my data. Technology allows the market to come to us, so we don’t need to leave our homes. And the market is greedy!

Generosity is the antidote to greed. Greed quietly says, “I owe me,” convincing us that more will finally make us feel secure. Generosity reminds us that we can trust God to provide what we need and learn to be satisfied in his care. I, for one, need daily practice with this.

Proverbs 11:24-25
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

I wish everyone could have the humbling opportunity to experience mission work. I’ve had the privilege of participating in several mission trips, and I can say with certainty, the experience grows your heart for generosity and teaches reliance on God. A willingness to meet others’ needs is really all it takes. I’ve served meals, washed dishes, prayed, set up, torn down, sung songs, played games, and loved like Jesus.

What I received in return was priceless!

I’ve seen joy on the faces of children who lived in a city dump, housed by garbage that barely protected them from the elements. I’ve met people who were simply grateful to have a hot meal or relief from the cold. And I’ve sat with elders who were eager to tell their stories to a stranger willing to listen. Each experience reminded me that I live an abundant life.

Our heart is like our command center. It can deceive us or lead us to bear fruit. Greed, like guilt, anger, jealousy, and pride, is a symptom of spiritual sickness in our heart. The antidote is to practice the opposite.

So, if you’re finding yourself feeling a little greedy, like you’ve worked hard and owe yourself, or that the next-best-thing will fix what ails you, it may be time for a heart check. And giving generously may just be the cure you’re looking for.

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Questions:
Where do you notice “I owe me” showing up in your thoughts, choices, or spending lately?

What is a small, but concrete, way you can practice generosity today?

Next Steps:
Consider signing up for a Mission Trip, at home or abroad. Look into the next Second Saturday Serve project or volunteer opportunity where you can give your time, gifts, and heart.

Prayer:
Lord, you have given me so much from your abundance and I am so grateful. You have forgiven my deceitful heart and turned me toward you when I needed it most. My answer to your invitation is yes. Yes, Lord! Help me to recognize what you are inviting me into next, and give me the courage to respond. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

This post was written by Julie Estep, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.