Tuesday: Generosity
“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7, NIV), and generous giving is an important aspect of the Christian life. While we must allow the Bible to challenge our giving and financial priorities, generosity is more than just throwing money at a cause, no matter how worthy.
Instead, generosity is one of the largest of life attitudes and a key quality of “those who fear the LORD”, as noted a number of times in Psalm 112: “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice” (Ps. 112:5, NIV).
What do the following texts teach about generosity toward those in need? Lev. 25:35-37, Ps. 119:36, 2 Cor. 8:12-15, 1 John 3:16-18, 1 Tim. 6:17-19.
Generosity
In his New Testament letters, Paul regularly cited the generosity of God—expressed most fully in Jesus’ giving His life for us—as the source of the Christian hope. In turn, His death for us was also the motivation for our living a life of generosity toward others: “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ” (Philem. 1:6, NIV).
Generosity is an attitude toward life that is large, bold, and embracing. So much in our individual lives, societies, and cultures prompts us to focus on ourselves, to keep as much as we can for ourselves. And let’s face it, for most of us the default mode is always self, self, self anyway.
If it is real, our faith will cause us to die to self and live more for others. Our faith helps us imagine the world and its people as God sees them, in both their goodness and their brokenness, and it impels us to seek to help those in need, to whatever degree possible.
As a quality of living, generosity is readily appreciated by fundraisers and charities. Such generosity is measurable and directly practical. But large donations do not necessarily indicate a generous life (see Mark 12:41-44). A generous life is larger and more valuable than any donation. We need better to appreciate and cultivate a generous spirit in all that we do. For most people, generosity doesn’t come naturally; it is grace that we need to express in our lives proactively and purposely, regardless of the pull of our sinful, selfish humanity.
| Besides giving money, even generously, what are other ways that we should manifest a generous spirit? |
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On the whole, I am fortunate to live in a caring generous community. The other day someone found a homeless man. His circumstances were that the Dept of Community Services (DOCS) did have accomodation for him but it was going to be some weeks before it was available. It was not long before this man had a tent, sleeping back, camping stove and a good supply of food to keep him going in the meantime, all given by people who had heard of his circumstances.
We are in the grip of a drought that some regard as the worst in the history of the state of New South Wales. In particular, the farmers are doing it tough as are the communities that depend on them. What they really need is good soaking rain (then in typical Australian fashion we would probably have the worst floods on record!) But in the meantime people in the coastal cities are sending truckloads of essential food to the communities in greatest need. Convoys of stock food are being sent from other areas of the country unaffected by drought.
When you see communities caring for one another in this way it raises your faith in humanity. The generosity may be entirely secular but God is able to work through those who do not believe in him.
I think of the many volunteer organisations such as the volunteer emergency services, the rural fire brigades, the U3A movement for providing social support for the ageing, the hospital volunteers such as Pink Ladies - this list goes on and on. All of these are fuelled by generous caring people willing to donate time and skill for the benefit of the community.
It there a message for Seventh-day Adventists? Yes, we should be joining them and helping if we have not already done so. Our time is our best gift.
When I was a child growing up, in Indian weddings in the past they would announce the money that has been collected as a wedding gift.
The relatives would compete with each other in giving the most not because of generosity but because they wanted to beat the other giver.
In Christianity, it's not the money but it's the heart of the giver is taken into account.
The widow gave all that she had and was generous toward God.
Nicodemus when he understood the cross, he gave all his possessions and died as a popper.
In Exodus 36:5 The workers said, we have more than enough offering.
1 Chronicles 29
David a man who was told you will not build my temple did not get discouraged, but gathered silver, gold, iron and wood for the building of the temple
1 Chronicles 29: 1-5 describes the gift of David for the building of the temple.
David asks a question to the leaders,
1 Chronicles 29:5 Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”
6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
Haggai 1:4
"Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
Every one must answer this question within our hearts.
We can be generous to others because we are thankfull for what we have already received. The practice of generosity is somehow the practice of gratitude!