Too scared to be generous? On angels and zucchini

Scripture is full of practical advice. “Don’t be afraid” is up there in my list right now, for a bunch of reasons:

• it’s solid counsel that has stood the test of time - from Moses to Mary, from prophets to shepherds

• I need to hear it often

• if it’s a good enough line for angels, it’s good enough for me.

How does fear relate to generosity? I’m glad you asked!

Don’t squeeze the zucchini

When we are scared, we hold on to what we have too tightly. Sort of a death grip, which is ironic because none of the things we are squeezing are ours to keep. As I’ve said before, dying with a big pile of money under the bed is the same as dying with a big pile of zucchini under the bed. I shared a manna, zucchini and money sermon along these lines this summer. A market gardener shared in the children’s time before the message. He noted that zucchini is a generous plant. It’s also a beautiful plant - see photo - that comes in many varieties and can be prepared many ways. I got to keep the zucchini displayed here and I can affirm that they are delicious barbecued (slice them thinly and brush them with olive oil).

This generous farmer shared his zucchini with me. He trusts that God will provide more zucchini and indeed his entire business model rests on God’s faithful provision. This is true for everyone of course, we are all dependent on God’s provision, but farmers experience this more tangibly.

Gratitude and trust

We can all be grateful for the sun and for the rain. Like an angel’s visit, gratitude interrupts our fear and reminds us of God’s faithfulness. Naming our gratitude reminds us to trust in God. Generous people are grateful people, people who trust God and who want to share what God has given them. The zucchini farmer is one such person and I’ve met many others. Here’s a brief prayer that might serve as seed for a longer prayer:

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Help me to trust and to not be afraid. Help me to be generous. Amen