Spiritual Discipline: Generosity

Generosity is about more than just giving. It’s changing the way you think about and manage your resources.

Proverbs 11:24 NIV

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Generosity is about more than just giving. It’s changing the way you think about and manage your resources.

Proverbs 11:24 NIV

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Ecclesiastes warns against the love of money because it will never satisfy

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

But the reason we should be generous is that nothing we own really belongs to us. Everything we have belongs to God. We are just managing God’s resources.

Bible Project

But the reason we should be generous is that nothing we own really belongs to us. Everything we have belongs to God. We are just managing God’s resources.

In the story of the Bible, God is depicted as a generous host who provides for the needs of his guests. However, humans live from a mindset of scarcity and hoard God’s many gifts. In this video, we’ll be learning about God’s generosity.

Ecclesiastes warns against the love of money because it will never satisfy (). But the reason we should be generous is that nothing we own really belongs to us.

The Generous Ideal

The story of the Bible begins with a beautiful portrait of God as a generous host, providing everything needed for his creatures to enjoy his good world. The narrative in depicts God as the one who orders and energizes a creation that generates an overabundance of value. When God appoints humanity as his partners and co-rulers over creation, he supplies for all their needs and asks them to trust his generosity and live by his wisdom. And this all sounds great, until the humans begin to doubt God’s generosity.

Genesis 1Loading...More depicts God as the one who orders and energizes a creation that generates an overabundance of value. When God appoints humanity as his partners and co-rulers over creation, he supplies for all their needs and asks them to trust his generosity and live by his wisdom. And this all sounds great, until the humans begin to doubt God’s generosity.

Scarcity vs. Abundance

Ecclesiastes warns against the love of money because it will never satisfy (). But the reason we should be generous is that nothing we own really belongs to us.

The garden of Eden story shows how humans are deceived by the ultimate lie, the idea that God is holding out on us and hasn’t truly given us what we need to flourish. You could call this a “scarcity mindset.” It focuses on what you don’t have instead of recognizing what has been given to you.

In the biblical story, when humanity operates out of a distrustful scarcity mindset, they begin to justify selfish behavior. The violence of Cain in , Abraham’s deception in , or Jacob’s lying-spree in are all explorations of what happens when God’s people live from a scarcity mindset.

Scarcity Imploded

Everything we have belongs to God (). We are just managing God’s resources.

The biblical story shows how God chooses one family through whom he wants to restore the blessing of abundance to all nations. Abraham and his Israelite children are supposed to be the vehicle of God’s abundance for others. However, throughout the Old Testament the Israelites live from a scarcity mindset, and it sets them on a course for self-destruction. The story of the Old Testament concludes with all humanity, even the Israelites, sitting in a mess of their own making.

Jesus’ Kingdom of Abundance

The story of Jesus in the New Testament is portrayed as God’s response to a history of human selfishness. In a great reversal of expectations, God decides to give the ultimate gift, himself. In Jesus we see the creator God identify with humanity’s suffering and plight of scarcity. Jesus chooses to go without adequate food and shelter, and he reached out to the homeless and hungry in order to share God’s abundance with them. Ultimately, Jesus allows the selfishness of his own people to kill him, and he overcomes their evil with his generous love in his resurrection from the dead. He invites his followers to live as if the future reality of God’s abundant kingdom has truly arrived here and now.

An Abundance Mindset

The risen Jesus invites his followers to imitate his same life of generosity toward others. Living generously requires a posture of trust in God, and it’s all rooted in the conviction that God has given us all we need. If Jesus gave the ultimate gift of his own life for us, despite our selfishness and failure, then the only reasonable response is to extend that same loving gift to others. The story of Jesus has the potential to recreate us in the image of the generous God who loves to give abundantly.

Jesus taught about money and possessions a lot. He warned, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (). Instead, we should store our treasures in heaven, because our hearts follow our treasure (). If we are not careful, the cares of the world and riches will creep into our lives and keep us from God. So Jesus asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (). Put simply, “You cannot serve God and money” ().

The problem is not the riches; it’s our attitude towards money. We need to learn to be content no matter how much money we have (). So Paul teaches the rich to “be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (). Plus, giving must be done with the right attitude, because “God loves a cheerful giver” ().

While most Americans today spend more than they make, those who practice generosity must discipline themselves to live with less. This frees more of our time, money and possessions to be given back to God.

Generosity is not just about giving; it’s changing the way you think about and manage your resources. Jesus taught about money and possessions a lot. He says we should store our treasures in heaven, because our hearts follow our treasure. The problem isn’t about the things we have, but about the attitude about the things we have.

Proverbs 11:24 NIV

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

”24

In the story of the Bible, God is depicted as a generous host who provides for the needs of his guests. However, humans live from a mindset of scarcity and hoard God’s many gifts. In this video, we’ll be learning about God’s generosity.

The Generous Ideal

The story of the Bible begins with a beautiful portrait of God as a generous host, providing everything needed for his creatures to enjoy his good world. The narrative in

Genesis 1Loading...More depicts God as the one who orders and energizes a creation that generates an overabundance of value. When God appoints humanity as his partners and co-rulers over creation, he supplies for all their needs and asks them to trust his generosity and live by his wisdom. And this all sounds great, until the humans begin to doubt God’s generosity.

Scarcity vs. Abundance

The garden of Eden story shows how humans are deceived by the ultimate lie, the idea that God is holding out on us and hasn’t truly given us what we need to flourish. You could call this a “scarcity mindset.” It focuses on what you don’t have instead of recognizing what has been given to you.

In the biblical story, when humanity operates out of a distrustful scarcity mindset, they begin to justify selfish behavior. The violence of Cain in , Abraham’s deception in , or Jacob’s lying-spree in are all explorations of what happens when God’s people live from a scarcity mindset.

Cain and Abel

1Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” 2Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

16Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah,

Listen to my voice,

You wives of Lamech,

Give heed to my speech,

For I have killed a man for wounding me;

And a boy for striking me;

24If Cain is avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

25Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

More, Abraham’s deception in Genesis 12Genesis 12Loading...More, or Jacob’s lying-spree in -33Genesis 27-33Loading...More are all explorations of what happens when God’s people live from a scarcity mindset.

Scarcity Imploded

The biblical story shows how God chooses one family through whom he wants to restore the blessing of abundance to all nations. Abraham and his Israelite children are supposed to be the vehicle of God’s abundance for others. However, throughout the Old Testament the Israelites live from a scarcity mindset, and it sets them on a course for self-destruction. The story of the Old Testament concludes with all humanity, even the Israelites, sitting in a mess of their own making.

Jesus’ Kingdom of Abundance

The story of Jesus in the New Testament is portrayed as God’s response to a history of human selfishness. In a great reversal of expectations, God decides to give the ultimate gift, himself. In Jesus we see the creator God identify with humanity’s suffering and plight of scarcity. Jesus chooses to go without adequate food and shelter, and he reached out to the homeless and hungry in order to share God’s abundance with them. Ultimately, Jesus allows the selfishness of his own people to kill him, and he overcomes their evil with his generous love in his resurrection from the dead. He invites his followers to live as if the future reality of God’s abundant kingdom has truly arrived here and now.

An Abundance Mindset

The risen Jesus invites his followers to imitate his same life of generosity toward others. Living generously requires a posture of trust in God, and it’s all rooted in the conviction that God has given us all we need. If Jesus gave the ultimate gift of his own life for us, despite our selfishness and failure, then the only reasonable response is to extend that same loving gift to others. The story of Jesus has the potential to recreate us in the image of the generous God who loves to give abundantly.

The Discipline

For us, generosity looks like freely giving to others with grace-filled attitudes and actions. Remember, every gift we have originates from God. To be generous is to offer what we have, whether in moderation or in abundance, to those in need. Being generous does not always depend on finances. We show generosity by using our various giftedness: generosity with on-going forgiveness; generosity with our love, attention and compassion; generosity with moments of attentive listening; and generosity with whatever it takes to help another discover not only the love of God, but personal encouragement in the transformational experience toward Christlikeness.

John 8:1–11 NIV

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Practice

Start each morning in prayer asking God to show you where you might be generous during the day. Practice the prayer of examen at night reflecting on opportunities you responded/ did not respond to.

Think of a friend, neighbor or community need. Ask God what his invitation to you might be concerning your generosity and their situation.

Ask God to show you where a specific need might be: one that you are in a position to be of help with money or time; helping a student or organization struggling with tuition or meeting a budget. Then: Act!

Reflect

In your journal, list the many ways God has been generous to you. Make a list of your generous responses to God’s gifts to you. Be thankful!

Reflect on how “cheerful” and “generous” you are with your material goods. Prayerfully consider your time and involvements with certain people or organizations.

Pray for the Lord to open your eyes to specific giving opportunities. This might be a stretch of your giving in the past. It might also require some quality time you have been protecting.