The Adventure of Generosity
What is Generosity?
Generosity is liberality in giving. It is the willingness to give. There is kindness in generosity. Generosity is philanthropy and openhandedness. Most importantly, generosity is not necessarily about money, but it’s an attitude of the heart that sees a need and fills it.
Jesus and Generosity:
In Matthew 5:40-42, Jesus taught radical generosity, urging His followers to give without expectation. He lived this by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and caring for the outcast—never seeking anything in return. He also emphasized humble giving in Matthew 6:3-4, reminding us that generosity isn’t about recognition but about serving others in secret.
Why Generosity?
When we think of generosity as a spiritual discipline, we see it as a form of stewardship. Everything that we have comes from God and belongs to God. A person might have much to give and another person might have just a little. The widow in Mark 12:41-44 gave her last two coins out of her love for God. Jesus gave his life for you.
Think to yourself: “What talents, gifts, and abilities do I have?” Maybe you are mechanical or you are good with technology. Perhaps you love to practice hospitality and open your home to others. You might be an encourager and visit the sick or check on people who are suffering. These are gifts of time and space.
Having abilities like cooking, sewing, knitting, teaching, organizing, planning, cleaning, mowing a lawn, or even sitting silently with someone in pain can be gifts of generosity. Time is a commodity that is sometimes in short supply. Do you have talents that you use for God’s kingdom? I have a friend whose husband has been in the hospital quite a lot in the past few years. My friend, Diana, is a painter. She paints beautiful little canvases and leaves a note with her little canvases around the hospital for visitors, hospital staff, or patients to find or keep. It is her gift of encouragement. It’s a gift that says, “I see you. God loves you. Have hope.”
Another gift of generosity is the gift of grace. This is a harder one to practice. When someone hurts you, offends you, or doesn’t agree with you….sometimes, you just have to give the gift of grace. There is a time and place for it and it brings peace and invites forgiveness.
Ways to Practice Generosity:
Practicing generosity works best when it is an intentional act. Giving of our time, our money, and our talents is so needed in this world. People long to be seen, understood, and comforted. Sometimes, we have these gifts in our possession and we also have these gifts in our hearts to lend a hand.
There are many more ways to be generous…here are just a few examples.
1.carpooling 2.loaning tools or house or car 3.helping people move 4.child care 5.language translating 6.tutoring 7.technology 8.plumbing 9.lawn care 10.cleaning house 11.gardening 12.driving 13.hospitality for meetings, fellowships or overnight stays 14. washing dishes 15. prayer 16.encouragement 17.cooking, 18.sewing 19.mechanic 20.artist…music, visual arts, etc. 21. sending a card or text, 22.visits to elderly, sick, grieving 23. flowers or a plant 24.vegetables from your garden... There are many more ways to be generous, those were just a few examples.
Resources About Generosity:
Articles:
"How to Travel in Europe with No Money" - by Stottler Starr
"God is Plenty" - by Tariku Fufa
"The Wealth You Forgot You Had" - by Mark Grissom
Book:
The Practice of the Presence of God - by Brother Lawrence
Scriptures:
Matthew 5:40-42
Matthew 6:3-4
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 3:11
Luke 6:37-38
Acts 2:45-46
I Peter 4:8-11
2 Corinthians 9:7
1 Timothy 6:18-19
Proverbs 22:9
Romans 12:15
Philippians 2:4-8
Generosity is liberality in giving. It is the willingness to give. There is kindness in generosity. Generosity is philanthropy and openhandedness. Most importantly, generosity is not necessarily about money, but it’s an attitude of the heart that sees a need and fills it.
Jesus and Generosity:
In Matthew 5:40-42, Jesus taught radical generosity, urging His followers to give without expectation. He lived this by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and caring for the outcast—never seeking anything in return. He also emphasized humble giving in Matthew 6:3-4, reminding us that generosity isn’t about recognition but about serving others in secret.
Why Generosity?
When we think of generosity as a spiritual discipline, we see it as a form of stewardship. Everything that we have comes from God and belongs to God. A person might have much to give and another person might have just a little. The widow in Mark 12:41-44 gave her last two coins out of her love for God. Jesus gave his life for you.
Think to yourself: “What talents, gifts, and abilities do I have?” Maybe you are mechanical or you are good with technology. Perhaps you love to practice hospitality and open your home to others. You might be an encourager and visit the sick or check on people who are suffering. These are gifts of time and space.
Having abilities like cooking, sewing, knitting, teaching, organizing, planning, cleaning, mowing a lawn, or even sitting silently with someone in pain can be gifts of generosity. Time is a commodity that is sometimes in short supply. Do you have talents that you use for God’s kingdom? I have a friend whose husband has been in the hospital quite a lot in the past few years. My friend, Diana, is a painter. She paints beautiful little canvases and leaves a note with her little canvases around the hospital for visitors, hospital staff, or patients to find or keep. It is her gift of encouragement. It’s a gift that says, “I see you. God loves you. Have hope.”
Another gift of generosity is the gift of grace. This is a harder one to practice. When someone hurts you, offends you, or doesn’t agree with you….sometimes, you just have to give the gift of grace. There is a time and place for it and it brings peace and invites forgiveness.
Ways to Practice Generosity:
Practicing generosity works best when it is an intentional act. Giving of our time, our money, and our talents is so needed in this world. People long to be seen, understood, and comforted. Sometimes, we have these gifts in our possession and we also have these gifts in our hearts to lend a hand.
There are many more ways to be generous…here are just a few examples.
1.carpooling 2.loaning tools or house or car 3.helping people move 4.child care 5.language translating 6.tutoring 7.technology 8.plumbing 9.lawn care 10.cleaning house 11.gardening 12.driving 13.hospitality for meetings, fellowships or overnight stays 14. washing dishes 15. prayer 16.encouragement 17.cooking, 18.sewing 19.mechanic 20.artist…music, visual arts, etc. 21. sending a card or text, 22.visits to elderly, sick, grieving 23. flowers or a plant 24.vegetables from your garden... There are many more ways to be generous, those were just a few examples.
Resources About Generosity:
Articles:
"How to Travel in Europe with No Money" - by Stottler Starr
"God is Plenty" - by Tariku Fufa
"The Wealth You Forgot You Had" - by Mark Grissom
Book:
The Practice of the Presence of God - by Brother Lawrence
Scriptures:
Matthew 5:40-42
Matthew 6:3-4
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 3:11
Luke 6:37-38
Acts 2:45-46
I Peter 4:8-11
2 Corinthians 9:7
1 Timothy 6:18-19
Proverbs 22:9
Romans 12:15
Philippians 2:4-8