“Grace was given to me . . to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8 NAS.
Generosity is a trait of God’s family.
My thoughts and comments today are about “the satisfaction of generosity.”
I think people want to be generous, but liberality does not always come easily. It seems more natural to hold fast rather than to let go. People tend to gather, store, and hoard. Strangely, the more someone seems to have, the stronger the reluctance to give much of it away.
The Bible is clear about the path to abundance and blessing. “One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. A generous person will be enriched and the one who gives water will receive water.” Proverbs 11:24-25. Release is the key to increase. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 NIV.
Paul wrote, “I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me . . to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ . .” Ephesians 3:7-8 NAS. The grace Paul had received from God was expressed in his generosity of those “unfathomable riches” toward others. The grace of giving flows freely from your heart overflowing with grace that has been given you.
I believe you have to firmly trust that when you give what you should give, it is not lost but loaned to the Lord who will repay. “Give and it will be given to you; a good measure – pressed down, shaken together and running over – will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38.
The first step in the grace of giving is to realize that everything belongs to God, and everything comes from Him. See Romans 11:36 NIV. “Now the One Who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness as you are enriched in every way for all generosity.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.
God established a simple principle of sowing and reaping. The principle is really simple. First of all, you reap what you sow. Also, you reap more than you sow. As importantly, you reap nothing if you sow nothing. “Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should give as he has determined in his heart – not with regret or from necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6. My grandfather’s advice was, “Don’t give until it hurts. Give until it stops hurting.” That’s when and where you experience the joy and satisfaction of generosity.
Giving is about much more than money; giving is about heart, about love, and about the importance of God and others to you. Growing up, I often heard my Dad say, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” Grow in love and you will naturally grow in giving. I have found that to be true. Where generosity is restricted, love will be lacking.
When a young child brings a pretty flower from the yard to Mom, they are trying to say in one way or another, “I love you Mommy?” Love will find some way of expression just like God did, and just as your love must. Generosity is a trait of God’s family. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . “ John 3:16 NKJV. See Luke 12:32. When living graciously and giving generously, you are most like your Father.
My prayer for you today is that you are generous according to the grace God has shown toward you.
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