Just Be Generous

 November 15, 2024

Friday

We were created to be generous. Since we were created in the image of God and that image is in His attributes, generosity was created in us. After all, who has been more generous than God? He gave His only Son for us.

Then, why aren't all people generous. All of the attributes of God within us were corrupted in the Fall. Greed displaced much of our generosity. The Fall made us self-centered. A self-centered sin nature cannot boast having any good within it.

Still there is the remnant of God's creation in all of us. This is why so many stories have villains who show some good, some loyalty and even some generosity. It as if the world wants to say, "Hey, we're not all bad!" Yes, it is true that there is hardly a human who has shown no compassion or attribute of God at some time.

Generosity looks outside of ourselves. We give to others without expecting anything in return when God's attribute of generosity moves us to. We may not know the persons we give to but we know we must give to them. Thus, in a disaster the greatest forms of generosity come out of people who may not be Christian. 

People don't receive God's attributes when they become Christians. They receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves people to give when He is not quenched.

On the other hand, many Christians are just as stingy or even more so than non-Christians. The Church records that very few people give to the Church as they should. Most people can't see the disaster of lost souls. They don't realize that millions of people are marching into hell even as they read this blog. They don't realize who has their hearts when they are stingy or greedy.

So, we should be generous. Generosity must have discernment but if we take an assessment of our giving to anyone or anything, most will not get near ten percent.

It could be that the lack of generosity is what keeps you from getting that close to God. Jesus told the rich, young ruler to sell all that he had to follow Him. Jesus said that because that was the very thing that was dragging him down. It is like holding onto a chest of gold as you sink below the ocean waves.

Be generous. It seems simple. Try it out and see if it is more blessed to give than receive.

2 Corinthians 9:11–12 (ESV) ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.