JANUARY 18, 2024

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

Whenever the subject of generosity comes up, some people get nervous.  When it comes up from a religious leader, they get doubly nervous.  Maybe even seeing the title of this piece got you a bit nervous too.  I wish that wasn’t the case for people who follow Jesus because He modeled generosity to the maximum.  He gave His life away for us.

Why is generosity such an issue for some people but not for others?  I think the main difference is this: non-generous people focus on what they give up, while generous people focus on what they gain.  That’s because the Bible tells us that giving is the best way to receive!  Verses like Luke 6:38 remind us that when we give, it will be given back to us.  Not necessarily in monetary ways, though it may be, but in even better ways.  Jesus was quoted in the book of Acts as saying that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.  To that, many people sarcastically think, “Oh yeah, sure it does!”

But generosity is a truly rewarding practice, especially when God is the ultimate object of our giving.

"Non-generous people focus on what they give up, while generous people focus on what they gain."

I wish more Christians believed this, because the numbers and research on giving reflect that most really don’t.  I wish more churches taught this in a way that was not ultimately about getting more money from people but instead about instructing people on God’s will for giving.  I wish every ministry was fully funded by the people of God to do the work of God.  But more than anything, I wish we believed that generous giving is so good for our souls—both in this life and in the life to come.

I’ll talk about this subject on Sunday with hopes that you’ll be more encouraged to start (or keep) being generous to God.  I hope it will help you see God’s plan for being generous.

Warmly,
Vince