Important Truth about God - His Ability and His Generosity

Pastor and author A.W. Tozer is famous for saying that "What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."  

I, for one, happen to think Tozer is on to something with this statement.  And so part of my goal - both as a Christian disciple and as someone who teaches a fair amount of Bible & theology - is to build a strong foundation around a biblical view of God AND continually be returning to and reinforcing a robust, "big," and accurate picture of who God reveals Himself to be.  And that means I love it when authors, pastors, and teachers help bring various truths about God to life in fresh, vivid ways.

Recently J.D. Greear helped do this for me, bringing God's ability and His generosity together in some cool ways.  Check out this quote, from Greear's Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send​ (Zondervan, 2015), p. 187: 

The story is told that Alexander the Great had a general who approached him after many years of service to ask if  he would pay for the wedding of his daughter.  Alexander agreed and told him to obtain the funds needed from the treasurer.  Soon thereafter the treasurer came to Alexander, complaining that this general was taking advantage of Alexander's generosity.  He was asking for an exorbitant amount of money, enough to host the largest wedding Greece had ever seen.

Alexander thought about the situation for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively and said, 'Grant him his request in full.'  The treasurer looked bewildered.  Alexander continued, 'My general pays me two compliments: He believes that I am rich enough to afford his request and that I am generous enough to grant it.  In assuming these two things, he honors me.'

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Significantly, Greear ties this story to our taking risks for God.  (This isn't an apologetic for prosperity theology!)  Do we believe God is able to come through as we step out in faith?  Do we believe He is generous and good, as we take bold steps of obedience?  God is ABLE.  The theological word for this is "omnipotent" - He is all powerful.  And God is GOOD.  He exercises His power in generous and good ways.

May these truths about God continue to inspire our ongoing worship, faith, and obedience!