Behind the power of generosity

A young hockey team was decimated in a terrible highway crash. The aftermath is complex but one thing stands out; people from all over the world sent financial gifts to the survivors totaling more than fifteen million dollars. Why? Many of them had a connection with the team, but many did not. What makes a person want to give in a situation of no relationship at all?

This real-life situation is something like the story of the man who tossed starfish back into the water. When someone asked why he bothered since this would make no difference to the thousands of starfish stranded on the shore, he replied as he tossed in another, “It makes a difference to this one.”

In a world filled with tragedies, sometimes the overwhelmed human heart needs to focus on just one because we cannot fix or help them all.

There is another aspect of giving that applies especially to Christians. God has shown us that He is sovereign and that all we possess is a gift from Him. We know (or should know) that whatever we give away, if we need it He will replace it. The Christians who are most generous know this is true and can give without concern for their own needs.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)

Generosity is more than giving money. The ‘God wants you rich’ people will say that if you give dollars you will reap dollars, but God is not in that kind of investment business. While that happens now and then, the benefits of generosity are usually unexpected things like your shoes never wear out, or someone sells you their slightly used car for $100, or you continually find bargains at the grocery store.

Another benefit is an increased love for the recipients. I’ve noticed that whenever my little children were upset with their dad, all I had to do was get them to do something generous for him, like shine his shoes, and their attitude changed. It works for me too. If someone troubles me, “pray for your enemies” may not change them, but it changes me. A generous heart is blessed in the giving.

This is a Holy Spirit thing. The grace of God promises to supply all my needs — and He does. By transforming His people into the image of His Son, we become more like Jesus in His sacrificial generosity. He gave Himself to set others free from their sin. My giving can set people free from poverty, fear, loneliness, and a host of other problems especially when it is done cheerfully and in faith that God will take of my needs as I do it.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, this is a cheerful thought. Trusting You as my source makes generosity an experience full of lovely surprises. You have blessed me over and over by making me willing to let go of my precious stuff!