Generosity is something I believe many people don’t quite understand. Most times generosity is viewed as giving away our used up, old items, that we don’t want anymore. It’s also viewed as giving away a couple dollars every now and again to whatever we deem as a “good cause.” The majority of the world doesn’t understand that the more they give, the more will be given back unto them. To them, generosity means they lose something, and there is no return. There is way more to generosity than what the world has understood. True generosity comes from the heart, and it comes from the heart of God.

Dictionary.com describes generosity as a readiness or liberality in giving. In Kingdom terms, a generous person is willing and ready to give at all times. They are sacrificial, willing to sacrifice their own lives and possessions for the sake of another. They are not attached to worldly things. They understand they are Heaven’s distributors, taking the wealth God has given them in every area of their lives, and distributing it freely with great joy, acknowledging these things never belonged to them in the first place. These heavenly distributors know that all things come from God, all things belong to Him, and as they give freely, being led by the Spirit of God, they themselves will never go without. In the Kingdom of God, giving never results in loss. 

Many people believe they have nothing to give. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck with barely enough to get by, so giving is the last thing on their minds. Truth is – there’s always something one can give to another. It doesn’t always have to be financial. 

I have a friend who is a champion at giving. She is anointed to give, and a fabulous representation of a heavenly distributor. Her faithful giving over the years, and her understanding of how generosity works, has led to people from all over the state bringing gifts to her, and fulfilling every need she has. It has shown me (and numerous others) an unwavering faith in God like I’ve never seen before. My friend will take the items she receives to what I call her distribution center (her basement shelf or freezer), and as someone expresses a need, or at the leading of the Holy Spirit, she freely gives those things up, letting the person know that God has seen their need. I’ve been the recipient of the gift of her time as she would drive me to church every Wednesday night for Bible Study, and then feed me on the way home. The generosity of God has been made manifest through her, and because of her willingness to partner with the Holy Spirit, He faithfully rewards her and continues to provide her with more than she could have ever thought or imagined. 

Generosity produces an increase in faith. How many times have you heard the story of a person who received something they had been longing for, which they were unable to do or get on their own, and all of a sudden they simply had to acknowledge that there is a God who loves them and provides all their needs? They see the goodness of God and begin to grow in their faith and belief that God is real and desires to help them. 

People who see generosity in action, most often want to “be that kind of person too.” Generosity is like a seed planted, resulting in more and more generosity. You’ve no doubt heard of the Pay It Forward movement where someone pays for another’s meal, or does something for someone else, and then the recipient of that good deed “pays it forward” and actively searches out whom they can bless next. It creates a chain of good deeds and displays Christian virtues. 

Time, abilities, and talent are also some things a person can be generous with. I think of all the time I spent with my 90 year old grandma, and how the elderly desire companionship. I spent hours washing dishes from her china cabinet, that she never used, but was of great importance to her. She was the crankiest 90 year old woman I have ever met, but I spent ample amounts of time with her doing the things she loved. It made a difference in her life. She felt the tangible love of God. 

Long story short, I’ve witnessed the difference it can make in a person’s life when you give of yourself to be with them, or to even help them with various things. Jesus did the same – He put aside Himself for the sake of others, and provided a display of generosity that cannot be equally matched when “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness,” (Philippians 2:7) all for our sake. I love what Philippians 2:3 says – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”  We are not as important as we think.

Some people are difficult to get to know, or are challenging to spend much time with. However, by not giving up on them and being generous with your love and time, by giving of yourself in any way you can, (even if it’s a kind word in passing), it opens the door for God to do an amazing work in their lives. The love of God can crack even the hardest of shells. 

The goal of being generous is not only to provide for people’s needs, but it’s also to produce a wave of overflowing thanksgiving to God. 

Generosity produces thanksgiving. We can say this another way – generosity births thanksgiving. The goal of being generous is not only to provide for people’s needs, but it’s also to create thanksgiving to God within their hearts, and to reveal the goodness of God in their lives. As I said before, and as it says in Romans 2:4, the goodness of God leads people to repentance. It amazes people when we are good to them. They know they don’t deserve it, just as we understand we didn’t deserve what Jesus did for us, but He did it anyway. 

So what do you do if you don’t feel generous? First recognize that generosity isn’t something you simply conjure up on your own. True generosity is a byproduct of an intimate relationship with the King. When you spend time with the Lord, you begin to know who you are and what belongs to you, and it becomes easier to let go of things, and give of yourself to others. 

It is by the grace of God that we are able to give. In other words, we are graced to give. We are graced to be a generous people. All desire to give  comes out of the heart of the Lord and manifests through us. When we see the vastness of God’s generosity toward us, it produces generosity within us. As we become more and more like our Father God, we cannot help but become generous. 

Giving is an act of grace (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). This means that God Himself has given us the ability to do it. This grace looks like a cheerful, joyful giver; one who desires to give, and does so from a cheerful, thankful heart, not giving because they believe it is required, or begrudgingly. This grace to give comes from our love for each other, and a desire to see another succeed. 

By beholding the generosity of our Father God, we transform into a generous people as well. As I briefly mentioned before, He was generous in that He died on the cross while we were still trudging through life as sinners. He gave up His place in Heaven for a time, to come down in human form for our sake. Jesus went through severe rejection, torment, and hell on earth (to put it lightly) for our sake so that we could have Life, and life abundantly once again, and are no longer destined for an eternity of torment. 

Knowing and understanding all that the Lord went through, and did for us, and seeing His goodness, produces a great thanksgiving; such a thanksgiving that even in our affliction, we can still remain joyful and generous. Even in a time of lack we can remain generous because we know God will return it to us in even greater measure.

Some desire to do good, but fail to carry out their desires. Perhaps it’s because they don’t believe they have anything to give, or they’re waiting for the opportune moment to do things in the way they believe they should be done. Perhaps they’ve failed to discern the needs that surround them.

 2 Corinthians 8:11-14 says, “So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” 

We give out of our abundance, not out from lack. If you don’t have money, you cannot give money. If you have to work that day, and you don’t have time to take grandma to the grocery store, that’s ok. Do it when you are able. God says He supplies seed to the sower. This means that if we have a willing heart to give, He will provide us with the means to do it. He will open doors for us to be generous to others. Whenever we give of ourselves, we are sowing a seed that will produce a great harvest, resulting in more and more seed. It’s when we hold on to the seed and fail to sow into someone’s life, it loses its ability to produce. 

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

I love these Scriptures because we are not forced to give, and if we do not have a desire to give, we can ask God for the grace to give. He is able to “make all grace abound to you” so that you are willing and able. He is able to put you in such a position that you have all you need and do not need help yourself, so that you are more than able to help others in their times of need. Out of our abundance we help others, and then if a time were to come where we would need help, their abundance would then turn around and help supply our needs. Sowing in times of plenty will sustain us in times that look a little lean. If we fail to sow in the plentiful times, we will have nothing when trouble hits. “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes,” (Amos 9:13). The harvest will be so grand that we’ll still be reaping at the same time we’re sowing, resulting in a never ending harvest!

On a final note, 2 Corinthians 9 says that the “ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contributions for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.” 

Don’t you love that? Through our generosity, we confess the gospel of Christ! We are partnering with God to reveal the heart of the Father; to display His generosity, and His goodness. We are showing people how much the Father cares for them, and that they have not been forgotten. 

If you lack the spirit of generosity, simply ask the Lord to create within you a generous heart. You can be sure you will obtain what you have asked, because a generous heart IS the will of the Lord. 

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38