We can probably all remember times in our childhood when we did and experienced things that were INCREDIBLY amazing at the time, only to find out as we get older that there were far greater, far more satisfying options available.
C.S. Lewis wrote about the narrowness of our desires in his famous work “The Weight of Glory” where he talks about kids contently making mud pies:
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Much like the child who can’t imagine there’s anything better, we often short-side ourselves with our narrow desires. Narrow desires are easy, more controllable, and don’t require any big steps of faith. But what are we missing?
In the book of Acts, Paul quotes Jesus’ words when he says:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
In the Old Testament, we read in Proverbs 11:24-25:
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed”.
Sometimes we treat generosity as a mud pie. We’re content with our current level of giving or our current level of pouring into others’ lives only because we can’t imagine anything better. In doing so, are we short-siding ourselves and our ability to experience God in a deeper way? Mud pies may seem great at the time, but once you experience what God can do in you and through your generosity… you’ll never settle for a mud pie again.
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