Are You Generous? The First Two Steps to Generous Living

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Generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return.~Wikipedia

I can still remember being a little girl and the first thing I did each time I was asked to share. I would  look at it, whatever it was, and wonder if there was enough. There rarely was . . . at least that’s what I thought.

It’s easy to worry about whether or not there is enough. A dear friend told us once, “Generosity is not about having enough of anything but faith.”

That’s why I am going to Bolivia. I want to find out how I can make a difference in the life of a child living in an impoverished community now, not when I think I have enough. I want to share stories with you of different ways we can generously make a difference together now, not when there’s enough.

Yesterday, I asked, “Is God generous?”

That is where we have to begin if we are going to be generous ourselves. We must know that, God is generous!

Here are the first two steps to generous living:

1. Know – everything comes from God.

In the early verses of 1 Chronicles 29, David praised God for the generous contributions that had be given for the building of the temple. Then in verse 14 he said:

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” (NIV)

When we know that it all comes from God. Everything! Then we will remember that it is only ours to use in this time and place, while we are here and as we are able. In the end it all goes back to Him.

If we know and believe that our attitudes change. We don’t look to see if there is enough, we simply want to use what God has given in ways that will bring Him glory.

2. Trust – God will provide.

Just before Jesus provided enough food for more than five thousand people, the disciples came to Him and asked if they should send them on their way to go and get food for themselves. In Matthew 14:16:

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (NIV)

Then Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fishes, blessed them, and gave them to the disciples to share . . .

It is so easy to worry. What if we can’t pay our bills?

Trust is taking our faith and acting on it. Trust says I believe God will provide. I’m going to share. I’m not going to wait until what I have looks like enough, I’m going to act on faith and share a portion of what I have.

God is able to provide for us, and through us He is able to provide for those in need.

My prayer is that I will be aware of each time He says to me, “You go. You give. You help.” And then like the disciples I want to quickly share all that He provides.

Come back Thursday when we’ll look at three more steps to generous living.

Photo credit, © 2011 Jon Warren/World Vision

 

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