Generous

Generous:

            -liberal in giving or sharing

            -marked by abundance; ample

            - having a rich bouquet and flavor

            (Open handed, copious, kindly)

Acts 4:32-35 (TLB)

“All the believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had. And the apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great favor was upon them all. There was no poverty among them, because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.”

Living a generous life. Naturally we scan to the number on the tax line beside ‘charitable donations, puff out our chest a bit and pat ourselves on the back for the sum of money we have given this year to be “generous”. 

Is that what it means to be generous? To give out of our abundance? The world often marks our contribution to society by the large (or small) number on Form 1040 (totally had to Google that) J . But we are not supposed to be “OF” the world, so what exactly does generous look like? It is inclusive to monetary giving, but beyond that, AM I GENEROUS?

Acts 2:42-47 (TLB)

“They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”

What attracted the unsaved to the apostles? What was it about them caused people to turn away from their lives of sin and follow the ways of Jesus? Was it the money they gave them? Was it land they awarded them? Or was it their hearts and their homes that were shared with them?  What would it look like to be a generous person – to be generous with ALL that I am?! Verse 46 says “they met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy”. NIV says “they broke bread in their homes and ate together with GLAD AND SINCERE HEARTS”. 

They offered to each other their possessions but also their hearts and their homes. To offer someone your seat in church, your batch of muffins, a couch to crash on, a hot cup of coffee; that’s one thing. That takes a personal sacrifice. But to offer someone your heart? That’s a completely different sacrifice. What would THAT look like? . . . Well, I’ll tell you.

“The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (NIV)

There you have it; a life of generous living would mean Salvation for communities and cities, countries and nations. A heart transformation leads to righteous living, righteous living leads to generosity. 

Psalm 37:25-26 (NIV)

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.”

This scripture is used to link righteous living with generous giving. Am I generous with WHO I AM? Am I generous with my compliments, my willingness to forgive, my help, ideas, abilities, my compassion, my . . . my . . . Dare I keep going?

Do my ‘people’ know me as a generous person who gave of themselves freely without recognition or reward?

Now, hear my heart.  It IS important to give generously in the areas of tithes and offerings.  In fact, it’s commanded of us. However, generosity goes way beyond that.  It goes to the core of who we are.  It should be exactly WHO WE ARE.  We should be known as generous people who love deeply, give freely, off all of ourselves to the alignment of Christ’s will and find the very heart of Jesus in the midst of it.

Tara W.