“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” - Proverbs 11:24-26 MSG
First generosity is about receiving, then it's about giving. "Freely you have received, freely give."
In the Bible, Boaz left Ruth handfuls of grain so she wouldn’t have to work so hard to collect food for herself and Naomi. It didn’t seem like much, but he was sowing seeds of generosity—and Ruth was reaping those seeds with every step she took. Your life can sow seeds of generosity into the lives of others too. It doesn’t always need to be a physical gift or something grand.
Sometimes you give peace, encouragement and joy. Sometimes you sow love through a warm hug or time spent with a cherished friend.
I’d be ecstatic to say that I could share with you ways I’ve been generous in some luxurious sort of way. To say that I’ve given a beautiful home away, no strings attached, or a brand new car to the neighbor down the street who needs it—that would be wonderful. But in all honesty, I haven’t given any of those things away.
Now that doesn’t mean I can’t dream to give away some of those things in the future, but currently my giving is a little less glamorous than that.
Note this: Your lack of resources doesn’t excuse you from living a generous life. Give what you have when you can and when God asks.
Generosity for me in this season looks more like giving away my favorite sweater to a sister who fell in love with it at first sight (she looks glorious in it, I might add).
Or dropping fruity candy and Tylenol off on the doorstep of a sick friend.
Giving my hard earned cash, meant as she-money, to a beautiful leader I admire.
Dropping off gift baskets to my neighbors homes.
Taking my family to draw sidewalk chalk messages outside of the elderly home during the COVID crisis—that way they can look right out their windows and see encouraging love notes throughout the day.
Telling the lady I just met at the pool she looks pretty.
I love what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
God blesses you because He loves you, so receive it. He blesses you to bless others, so give generously.
Giving not only blesses the person you give to, but it has lasting effects on your heart and life as well. Maybe God is asking you to give, so that selfishness will release its hold on your life and generosity will open you up to something even greater God has in store.
Maybe giving will help you trust God more because as you give, you see that God gives back to you beyond measure. Generosity is receiving from God, then giving back to others with godly stewardship at its core.
"The fact is, no matter how much I give, I can never out-give God."
Photo Credit: Daniela Constantini
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