Generosity is not some ‘nice-to-have’; it is foundational to Christian living.
How we handle money is a reflection of our spiritual health.
If we are not living generous lives then there is a good chance that the real source of the problem is our spiritual health. Generosity is a lifestyle. It is not something we do every now and then but daily.
Generosity comes from a heart that has responded to God’s grace. The older I get the more I realise just how profound this grace is. When we have been touched by grace, we want to share it with others.
Generous people understand who the real owner is. We are stewards of God’s resources. We are called to be generous with what he has blessed us with. You could say ‘we are to be generous to others like God has been generous to us’.
Money should flow through us, not stop with us.
The inevitable outcome is that God is glorified. Generosity is contagious. People want to mix with others who are generous. Who wants to spend time with people who don’t share what they have with others?
What is the antidote to greed? It is generosity. Nothing solves a greed problem better than giving it away. Greed says I want more and more. Generosity says I have more than enough to share with others.
We need to remember that God wants generosity for us, not just from us. Jesus said it was ‘better to give than to receive’ because he knows what joy giving brings to people’s lives. Our Father in Heaven by his very nature is generous. What loving father doesn’t want to richly bless his children?