For years I worked in big cities, like Chicago and New York City. As I walked around the city, I couldn’t help but notice the number of people on the street who were asking for money. I was asked for money so much that if I’m honest, it got to be a little annoying. I wanted to help, but there were so many asking. I heard stories of people pretending to be homeless, when in fact they were making six figures begging for money. It was so hard to know who really needed the money, if it was a scam or if they wanted the money for drugs and alcohol. I heard a pastor talk about this, and it really convicted me. He said that God calls us to give, that’s our responsibility. What happens to it after we give is not our concern. That made a difference in me….and so I started putting money in my pockets (you never want to open your wallet on a city street) and when someone asked me, I gave and I said God bless you. We show the love of Jesus by giving with a spirit of generosity.
One of the things I always admired about my mother was her generous spirit. She reminds me of the poor widow in the Bible who gave as an offering two small coins worth only a few cents. And Jesus said, “Truly I tell you this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44). That was my mother. In her eulogy I shared, “Mom was generous…she gave to her church and to anyone that had a need, often sacrificing what she had to help someone else. She taught us the importance of paying your tithes and giving. She passed this same love and generosity onto her children.”
What does it mean to be generous? It can be defined as liberal in giving, or caring and unselfish. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of giving and being generous. It’s not just giving financially that matters, it’s having a generous spirit. Generosity extends beyond money; it is a matter of the heart. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Generosity is not about how much money we give. It’s about how much of our hearts we give. And whatever we give we should give joyfully.
Here are some ways we can give with a spirit of generosity that truly comes from the heart.
Our Time
In Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages, one of the ways people experience love is by spending quality time. I have learned that spending time with my husband is his primary love language. Even though this book pertains to couples, think about your spouse, kids, parents and friends. How much time do we engage with them? The time we spend with others is something they want and will cherish. Another way to be generous with our time is by helping others by volunteering. When we give our time, we should also be generous with our attention and be fully present. I know that can be hard with so many distractions. How do we handle interruptions? When the kids want us to play with them but we’re busy working or preparing dinner? Imagine what it would mean to them if we stopped and spent a few minutes with them in that moment. My dog Coco is all about playtime, and when she looks at me with those soulful eyes, how can I say no?
Our Words
Words are powerful and can be used to bless or wound others. The Bible tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Kinds words can calm the soul, and bring a smile to someone’s face on a tough day. But words spoken in anger or through bullying can have a negative impact, often breaking a person’s spirit. It’s now just what we say, but are we intentional in taking time to affirm those around us? Those we lead, our coworkers, our bosses, our friends our children? Words of affirmation can change a relationship. In Practicing Affirmations by Sam Crabtree, he says “Just a few compliments unaccompanied by criticism opened up a relationship that had been closed for two years”. We can practice affirming others by giving them a compliment or more importantly by sharing what we see of Christ in them. One of the most powerful affirmations I ever received was when someone told me that they saw the Spirit of God radiating in me.
Our Love
One of the greatest gifts we’ve been given is God’s love. We didn’t do anything to earn it; it is a free generous gift. No matter how many times we mess up, it doesn’t change and it never leaves us. It’s unconditional and nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38). God’s greatest command is that we love God and love others. Do we love others the way God loves us? Do we give love generously and unconditionally? We give love generously when we are forgiving when someone hurts us or messes up. We don’t hold a grudge and try to get revenge. We love generously when we put other’s needs before our own. We love generously when we are patient, kind and understanding. We love generously when we shower those we love with hugs and kisses. We were on vacation with my brother and his family last week. I felt the generous love of my eight-year-old nephew when he said good morning and gave me the biggest hug ever, every morning!
When we give joyfully and from the heart, we are also blessed (Proverbs 22:9). “For it is in giving that we receive” (St. Francis of Assisi). If you’re having a bad day, be generous and see what happens. It can change our hearts and our outlook!
