GENEROSITY

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich – 2 Corinthians 8:9

GENEROSITY is a term we usually apply to people, and a quality we cherish in others, but it is worthwhile to consider how generous the Lord is toward us – what I call Divine Generosity. Understanding God’s Generosity is important to receiving and operating in Divine Blessings. Our extremely generous God has abundantly made provision for our physical needs (Psa.65:9-13). He created the earth and all it contains as a habitation for humankind. He made the sun to give light and life that causes vegetation to grow. He sends rain to water the land and quench our thirst. Psalm 65: 9 says, “You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.” All of these should cause us to stand in awe of His love and care for us, but His generosity doesn’t end with meeting our physical needs.

The Lord has also provided for all our spiritual needs through His Son Jesus Christ. As a result of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection, we who believe in Him are reconciled to God and bestowed with a wealth of spiritual blessings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph.1:3). We have His Word to guide us, His Spirit to empower and transform us into Christ’s image, and His Body – the Church – to encourage, edify, and support us. We have access to the riches of His Grace, of His Glory, and of His Mercy (Eph.1:7,18; 2:4). Yet Divine Generosity doesn’t end there.

The Lord has also promised us an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance in heaven: “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1Pet.1:4). All that He has prepared for us is beyond human comprehension: “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Cor.2:9). The last two chapters of the book of Revelation describe the new heaven and earth as places of abundance and blessing, untainted by the blight of sin and the darkness of death. Given all that the Lord has so richly provided and promised, gratitude should be our primary response, as His people who are called to walk in the Spirit. In addition however, His generosity should inspire us to demonstrate generosity toward others, by endeavouring to meet not only their physical needs, but also the spiritual, through proclaiming and practising the gospel.

People often assume that only the wealthy can be generous. This is far from being true; and the Christians in Macedonia disproved it. Referring to them as a Model of Generosity, Paul motivated them to follow through on their original commitment to support the church in Jerusalem. Through the example of the Macedonian churches, we see what generates a generous spirit. A generous person is sensitive to the needs of others, even when he or she is passing through challenges and trials (v.2). A generous spirit sees needs as opportunities for stewardship (v.4). Liberality flows from a life surrendered to God: they gave themselves to the Lord before offering their gifts (v.5). Generosity is a decision, not an emotion: “readiness to desire” generosity must lead to “completion” of it (v.11). A generous attitude has more to do with how much of you the Lord has, than how much money or other resources you have.

God has blessed you that you may be a blessing to others. As you fully surrender to Him, He’ll provide the grace you need to share His blessings with and minister His gifts to others. You thus become an extension of His generosity.