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In our culture today, we hear people talk a lot about karma. It’s even out there a little more now because of the singer/songwriter Taylor Swift’s new album! Karma is the idea that what goes around, comes around. Maybe you’ve been in a conversation where someone boasts that they have good karma coming their way because they’ve been trying hard to do good. On the other hand, maybe you’ve heard someone be warned that karma is going to catch up with them because they have been acting badly. The idea is that whatever someone’s karma, it’s something they earn.
Contrary to karma, one of the most revolutionary things in the Bible is that the kingdom of God operates on grace. Grace is receiving unmerited favor for what we cannot earn. This is what eternal salvation is based upon. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9, it is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and it is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. In this way, salvation is a free gift of God! This is the headline of grace in God’s story, but grace permeates all of God’s economy in so many ways. Even generosity is an act of grace!
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he encourages them to give generously, and this is what he says, “But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV). Our generosity may be one of the most significant ways we live out the Biblical message of grace. Not only is our giving a reflection of God’s grace to you and me, after all we can only give out of what God has already generously given us, but our generosity also shows grace to others, blessing them even if they did nothing to earn it.
When we extend grace to one another we are operating in a revolutionary way, just like how the kingdom of God operates. In a world of karma where everybody thinks they are getting what they deserve, we can remind others of the story of God’s grace, and that they are loved and accepted apart from what they do. In our culture today where so many of us feel we need to do more and more good to deserve acceptance, how amazing is it to know we are loved without earning it! Our generosity is a simple way to show others this unmerited favor and share the powerful and much needed message of grace. Just as Paul urged the Corinthians 2,000 years ago, let us also excel in this act of grace by looking for opportunities to be generous to others. In doing so we will be spreading something far better than good karma, we will be spreading the very grace of God!
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