Advent = Generosity

Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Scrooge is the quintessential symbol of greed, bitterness, and isolation. Scrooge is a wealthy but miserly old man who despises Christmas and sees it as a frivolous celebration that distracts from making money. His stinginess and disregard for others have left him lonely, without close relationships or a sense of joy.

One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways or face a bleak, empty afterlife. Marley’s warning is followed by visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, who each show Scrooge scenes that reveal the impact of his choices on himself and others. These visions gradually melt his hardened heart, and Scrooge undergoes a transformation, realizing the value of generosity, compassion, and community.

Scrooge represents the tendency to withhold generosity and focus on self-interest, especially during a season meant for giving. Here’s what I think we need to learn today. By facing the "Scrooge" within us, we’re encouraged to let go of greed and embrace a spirit of generosity that reflects God’s abundant love—filling not only our lives but also the lives of those around us with warmth and blessing.

I wanted to see what lesson we could learn about generosity from Scrooge. So I went to the source of all worldly wisdom: Google and I asked gemini (google AI) to give me the top lessons learned about generosity from the classic tale: Here’s what it told me:

Scrooge learned several specific lessons about generosity:

Generosity brings joy: Scrooge realized that giving to others, even small acts of kindness, can bring immense joy and satisfaction.

Generosity is contagious: His newfound generosity inspired others to be more giving and compassionate.

Generosity is a choice: Scrooge understood that generosity is not a burden but a conscious choice. He chose to be generous, even when it meant sacrificing personal comfort.

Generosity can alleviate suffering: By donating to the Cratchit family, Scrooge directly alleviated their suffering and brought them hope and happiness.

Generosity enriches life: Scrooge's life became richer and more fulfilling as a result of his generosity. He experienced a sense of purpose and meaning that he had previously lacked.

Ultimately, Scrooge learned that generosity is not just a virtue; it is a way of life that can transform both the giver and the receiver.

That right there. That will preach!

But I need you to know, We don’t take our theology from Fictional characters from literary masterpieces.

Generosity in Proverbs

As we think about generosity, we see that this topic is mentioned often in the wisdom writing of Proverbs .

It speaks of Generosity to those who are poorest among the land.

It speaks of building wealth through diligent labor.

As well as loosing wealth through slothfulness

Proverbs speaks of buying and selling, gaining interest and investing

As well as caring for the normal needs of one’s household.

It truly is a treasure of great understanding on the topics surrounding money and possessions.

When reading the Proverbs, you must remember that the society at the time was agricultural in nature - meaning, there is a lot of allusion to plating, farming, and tending to animals. But the principles remain. Jesus used them in his teaching to transcend from the agricultural to the cultural.

Proverbs 11:24–26 “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: And he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.”

Here is what I see from this verse, and I think it pretty important to us today. It’s also the main lesson from Charles Dicken classic

Generosity is the key to increased Joy!

Generosity is the key to Increased Joy

TRANS:

Our Generosity increases the joy for others

Our Generosity blesses those who receive our generosity.

Isn’t that true. When we give something to others, they are blessed with our gifts.

In Proverbs, the Bible speaks of giving to those in need. Certainly those who received our benevolent giving are blessed because of the gift.

Just a few weeks ago, we were able to deliver Thanksgiving boxes of food to right around 180 families in our community.

On December 21st, we will once again deliver food boxes to 180 families in our community. We will bless them with our generosity.

You did that. You gave generously, and your generosity blessed all those people.

Did you know that Proverbs mentions the poor over 35 times. Many of these references include a call to action for God’s people to minister to the needs of the poor.

The Gospel of Matthew speaks of a Father giving good gifts to his son. Certainly the Son is blessed by receiving a good gift from the Father.

Christmas is a season of generosity. Perhaps you are on the hunt for that perfect gift for your loved one. Why do you spend so much time in choosing the perfect gift? It’s because you want your gift to bring joy to the person who opens your gift.

If that wasn’t the case, you would wait until the day before Christmas, run to the corner gas station and pick out whatever they had available.

ILL: Show Picture from Cumberland farms!

Generosity is the key to increased Joy!

Not only does generosity increase the joy for others, but…

Our Generosity increases the joy for ourselves

In the proverb that we read, the we see the master of the field sowing seed. He is giving the seed to the ground.

He is giving time to water the seed.

What is the purpose of these actions. To reap a harvest. In other words to receive a harvest.

This harvest is used to feed his family…That is a blessing

He uses the harvest to sell to others.

Even parts of the harvest are give to the poor.

In all these aspects of the harvest, there is a blessing gained by the one who initially sowed the seed.

There is a blessing for the one who engages in generosity.

Generosity is the key to increased Joy!

My grandparents had a farm. I didn’t get to take part in a lot of the planting and preparation. But I did my fair share of reaping the harvest.

I used to watch my mamaw and papaw care for the crops. The harvest brought great joy to their hearts.

My Mamaw would brings the fruits and veggies in: cook them, prep them, can them, share them and store them.

We would gather and shell pecan by the 5 gallon bucket. Dozens of 5 gallon buckets.

It was hard work for sure. But it was joyful.

There was joy in a harvest

There was joy in the snapping of the beans

There was joy in the shelling the pecans

There was joy in the cooking

There was joy in the canning

There was joy in the eating

There was joy in the sharing!

That brings me to another great verse about generosity

Acts 20:35 (KJV 1900)

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Our Generosity increases futures generosity

There is a principle found all throughout the scriptures. It is often called the principle of stewardship.

And, here’s a simple description of this principle. As we develop a generous heart, it opens up a greater flow of generosity from God.

In essence, as we learn to be generous, as God is generous, We experience greater financial blessing

Which in turn allows us to show greater generosity!

Which in turn leads to greater blessing.

Okay, We need to see this from scripture.

Proverbs 3:9–10 “Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 9:6–11 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”

I can’t go through every verse of scripture today, but these show a clear promise from God. If you chose generosity, God’s Blessing is promises.

You just can’t out give God.

Generosity is the key to increased Joy!

The Best part of the Christmas Carol is at the end. Scrooge turns form a greedy, stingy, bitter man into a joyful, generous, merry soul. He found the joy of the season. He found generosity!

We too can find the joy of the season by being generous. Don’t let the misery scrooge spirit rob you of joy. Choose generosity.

When you choose generosity…

You will bring joy to others.

You will bring joy to yourself

You will increase your future generosity which will bring greater joy!