Have you ever thought that being a giving person is actually a spiritual discpline and not just a personality trait? I’ve been thinking a lot about generosity lately and people in my life that have SHOWN me what that looks like.
I randomly heard 2 sermons today about generosity. One of the preachers talked about transfer of ownership. He said we must move from ownership to stewartship. Our home, cars, bank accounts, children, and spouses are all God’s, We need to give them each to God one by one. Then he said In Genesis 1 God told Adam to rule over the animals. Adam did not own the animals, God did. Adam was just responsible to care for them. A few chapters later sin entered the picture and everything changed. Now we view our possessions as things we own instead of things that God owns.
Do you see how this radically changes everything??? When I hold on to ANYTHING with closed hands I am saying this is MINE. My hands should be open with everything in my life. I don’t even own my children!!! I should start calling them God’s children. I’m actually more like a babysitter than an owner of them. I’m just ruling over them for a few years. I learn EVERYTHING by example. I’ve always been that way.
When our family moved to Virginia, God put us in a small old ugly house. I wasn’t too excited about it but it was good for me. Before we moved in the house, my friend Melinda got a bunch of people together to paint the house for us. She even bought pictures for the walls, place mats for the table, dish towels, and a fridge full of food. We moved away from all family and yet this friend poured love on us through generosity. I gave her a hug and said THANK YOU but I don’t know think I ever told her how much that helped me moving up here. Do you know how many times God has reminded me of her generosity when it has been hard for me to put others before myself? And this is how I learn. I see examples of generosity and DESIRE to love God in that way. It is a life of giving, not a random act here and there. It is a transfer of ownership. Nothing is mine, everything is God’s. One time I was at her house and I was helping her unload groceries out of the back of her van. As we were unloading, I was bringing in some bags and she said “no, those stay in the car”. Later I found out she kept a stash of food for the students at school for when they got hungry. Her hands were open and not closed with God’s blessings.
My in laws are another example of generous people. They just give and give and give. They aren’t rich but they give like they are. I’ve seen God provide so many things for them and I believe one of the reasons is because they shower others with what God has given them.
You don’t have to be rich to be generous. My dad was the most giving person I ever knew and we were poor….. I’m talking double wide poor. A child giving their favorite toy away, a church sharing their building with a church that doesn’t have one, giving money to missions with the money set aside for a family vacation. Find ways to love on others with what God has given you.
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