generous

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” – Psalm 145:16

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

In the “Finding Nemo” movie, the seagulls were given an easy line to recall: “Mine! Mine! Mine!” If you’ve ever sat with your lunch at the beach, you’ll see this scene come to life. A seagull will beat out even small children for that half-eaten sandwich you left uncovered.

I’m reminded of that scene when I hear someone fixate on what others have instead of trusting God’s provision. A desire for what someone else has earned is scarcity thinking, folks. A thinking that sets us far apart from God’s world.

From the very beginning God gave humans everything we could ever need. He created us and therefore knew what would bring us nourishment, joy and rest. Even as the Israelites wandered in the desert He was generous with food to sustain them. When they needed water, He made rocks overflow with fresh clean water.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

Our generous God sees it before we need it. Now when I say that, your mind might jump to that new dress, fancy car, dashing young man (or woman). While He may provide those to you, His generosity has more depth than fleshly desires.

The Bible reminds us to ask with His will in mind, not ours. I didn’t always understand this kind of generosity until God confronted me with my own misplaced hopes. I once believed that moving to a lake house would solve my anxiety and health struggles. When financial hardship struck instead, God revealed that my dream had become an idol. In letting go, I began to see His generosity more clearly: a stronger marriage, deeper prayer life, richer friendships, and unexpected peace.

That financial situation drew my husband and I closer together. My husband began leading us in prayer nightly. My Bible study time deepened. Friendships grew fonder. And peace came from a whole different place than I’d imagined. God generously provided what I truly needed.

God’s Gifts vs The World’s

When we define God’s blessing based on worldly wants, He comes across as stingy. The God of the Bible is much bigger and more generous than we can imagine. We are chastised for not having because we don’t even think to ask. Peace in our relationships, joyfulness, forgiveness towards others, a sense of purpose – those are some of the higher gifts He pours over our hearts and minds. Gifts He then wants us to turn over to others in generosity.

Yes, He has also blessed me with a wonderful home, food to eat, finances that allow me to travel and more. But those things are blessing far beyond what we all really need. The ultimate gift He has so generously gifted is His Son, Jesus Christ. His blood was shed in forgiveness of our sins so we may have an eternal relationship with the God of the universe. A gift we could never earn through our performance. A gift He hands to us with great sacrifice and without us lifting a finger.

He gives each day our daily bread which nourishes our souls. When I’m feeling disconnected from the Holy Spirit, I remind myself to list the generous ways He has showered me and my family.

Friend, God is not stingy. He is generous. Generous with His love and forgiveness. Generous with His blessings and provision. Come to Him and ask. And when you ask, ask with the right motives as James guides us. Ask for the small and the impossible.

Dear God,

Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you that you are able to bring hope through even the toughest of times, strengthening us for your purposes. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don’t thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen

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A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

For a few years in a row a person in my family would give us all lottery tickets as part of our Christmas gifts. It was a chance to win thousands of dollars but we usually came away with a few dollars between us all. It was a fun activity during the middle of gift giving. If you’ve ever scratched off a lottery ticket in the United States there’s a place on the back to put your name and address so if you were to hit it big, you’d mail the ticket in to receive your winnings. The odd part about our Christmas tickets was this: the gift giver would always place their name and address on the back of the ticket. What they were saying was, “Here’s a fun gift but if you win anything it’s mine.”

Generosity is not a natural behavior for many of us. For some, we can be tightfisted and stingy. For others, generosity seems like second nature. It wasn’t until around the 18^th century that our modern view of generosity became more commonplace. Before that it was thought only people with “means” could act admirably and with virtue. However, the concept of generosity in the Christian realm can be seen throughout scripture, with its culmination in the lesson of God sacrificing His only Son for our salvation. The apostle Paul regarded generosity as proof of the genuine character of Christian love.

I love one of the descriptions of generosity by the Generosity Research Center at Notre Dame University: “Generosity involves giving to others not simply anything in abundance but rather giving those things that are good for others. Generosity always intends to enhance the true wellbeing of those to whom it gives.”

Looking back at our proverb today you’ll see the word “refresh.” It aligns perfectly with this description. Refreshing or enhancing the wellbeing of another reveals itself in many ways, depending upon that person’s or group’s needs. When we truly provide for another person or recognize an opportunity to fill a need, we will be blessed by seeing the other shine. Generosity need not be an economic exchange. Even when money is involved it should primarily be an action of the heart.

Friend, generosity is something to be cultivated and practiced. It starts with answering opportunities with an open heart. It’s important to remember God didn’t go halfway. Jesus suffered a painful death for everyone. Giving us all an opportunity to live a blessed life when we believe and are obedient to Him. He doesn’t need us for Him to be whole but I can only imagine how blessed He must feel when another person accepts His gift. As Christians, modeling this generosity should be a daily priority.

Holy Father thank you for being so generous to have given your only Son to enhance our lives for all eternity. Place me in situations so that I can also express generosity to those around me. Amen

Tag: generous

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