Generosity is something difficult to put into practice, as most of the time it is accompanied by sacrifice. Whether it’s sacrificing part of our time to serve someone or even donating material resources, which we often don’t have spare, but we do so to share with those in need.
Therefore, serving and being generous is an act of courage and gratitude.
Surrender and devotion
“Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless, I will show my salvation.”
Psalm 50:23
We need to be generous, because through this action, in addition to serving other people, we express our gratitude through giving, whatever the scope.
More than give material resources or donate our time, we need to look at everything we have, all areas of our lives, in a generous way.
Because generosity is at the essence of the Gospel. Pastor Tim Keller said something interesting in one of his sermons: Jesus Christ was the only human being who was not simply born, but who was delivered. God gave, donated His son out of love for us. Christ gave himself out of love for us. He became poor so that we could become rich.
Through this surrender of Christ we are introduced to a much deeper concept of generosity. Which is for us to give ourselves to God and to each other.
Pleasure and obedience
“And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”
2 Corinthians 8:5
More than donating something tangible and material, when we are generous we give ourselves, out of love, for a purpose, for the cause of the Gospel of Christ. We donate ourselves for people.
PeThis church in the text of 2 Corinthians gave itself to the Lord and also to its brothers, as is God’s will.
More than donating something tangible and material, when we are generous we give ourselves, out of love, for a purpose, for the cause of the Gospel of Christ. We donate ourselves for people.
The members of this church in the text of 2 Corinthians gave themselves to the Lord and also to his brothers in faith, as it is God’s will.
Servant’s heart
“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Romans 8:27
God expects us to give ourselves to one another in love. Without expecting anything in return, but for the pleasure and obedience of hearing the word of God and putting it into action, serving, giving and loving, just as He did.
When we are generous out of vanity and other motivations, such as the fear of being punished by God, our surrender is to ourselves, not to God or people. In the same chapter, the apostle Paul talks about the importance of giving with joy and sincere love, not out of obligation.
A Servant’s Heart
“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.“
Romans 8:27
Even if we are considered generous in our own eyes and those of the people around us. Even if we consider ourselves “super volunteers” and “hyper servants”, our hearts may have the wrong intention when we act.
That’s why the Bible talks so many times about guarding our heart and understanding how it is the source of life and how our treasure was deposited in it by God.
The Lord searches our hearts and knows what our motivation is. He knows our whys. Therefore, when you are going to be generous, more than focusing on how much you are giving, focus on why you are giving. Talk to God so that He aligns your heart and motivations with His heart and what He desires.
