Generosity

Topical Study

An exhibit of self-giving love, generosity is the glad readiness to give liberally to others and the practice of doing so.

In Scripture

God's generosity "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?" (Matt. 20:15). "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16). "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).

Generosity in God's people "Take from among you an offering to the Lord; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the Lord's offering: gold, silver, and bronze" (Ex. 35:5). "Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want" (Prov. 11:24). "When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matt. 6:3 - 4). "He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, `Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1 - 4). "The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. . . .You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us" (2 Cor. 9:6 - 7, 11) "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share" (1 Tim. 6:17 - 18)

The Bible's particular interest in generosity to the poor "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God" (Lev. 19:9 - 10). "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full" (Prov. 19:17) "In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35).

Points to Ponder

Forms of generosity We usually think of generosity as openhandedness with material goods (principally money), but one may be generous as well with "possessions, time, attention, aid, encouragement, emotional availability, and more." Except for possessions, each of these things is nonmaterial. Indeed, some of the greatest forms of generosity in the universe are nonmaterial, such as God's grace for sinners manifested in the self-giving death of Jesus Christ. As the parable of the unmerciful servant shows, God's prime generosity to us in forgiveness is meant to spur our generosity to others.

Generosity toward other's motives and acts The generous person may offer money or possessions — or time, attention, or encouragement — but he may also be magnanimous in assessing other people's motives and acts by giving others the benefit of the doubt, or by putting the best face on their motives and acts. A person does something right and you say, "That's who she is." A person does something wrong and you say, "That's an aberration."

The Bible's particular interest in generosity to the poor Texts here from Leviticus and Proverbs show the Bible's particular interest in generosity to the poor, to those who cannot be generous in kind and in return. But Luke 21 shows us a noble widow who is a sort of counterexample. She does not give a lot of money, but she does give self-sacrificially, displaying the heart of generosity. To give out of abundance is wonderful; to give out of want is heroic. Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey is memorable in part because it gives us vignettes of impoverished villagers who spot Central American kids riding the tops of boxcars toward the U.S. and then give them food they really cannot spare. They might have one tamale a day and give the kids half of it.

Private and public generosity In Matthew 6 Jesus recommends giving "in secret," no doubt to counteract the kind of giving that is motivated by hunger for publicity. But not all public giving is so motivated. Some is intended as a challenge and incentive to other givers: "I gave $$$. How about you?" Givers, too, may stir each other to good works.

Generosity benefits the giver Proverbs 11 and 2 Corinthians 9 represent a strand of biblical teaching that recognizes that generosity also benefits the giver. Givers tend to thrive. They don't finally lose by giving. Indeed, scientific evidence supports the thesis that, in generosity, those who do good also do well. Does this corrupt their motives? Not necessarily. Healthy givers act out of gratitude for God's generosity to them and out of love of neighbor. They do not give just to insure their own thriving, but it is not wrong for them to notice that those who act generously do in fact tend to thrive.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Search Results

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Generosity This sermon starter and commentary on Luke 12:13-21 reflects on greed, urging a generosity that forces us to open our hearts rather than to close them. Resource type: Sermon Starter/Outline | Source: A Plain Account Homilies on the Great Commandment, Generosity, End Times, the Kingship of Jesus Christ In this set of four Catholic homolies, Fr. Michael Berry focuses on the inextricable tie between worship of God and charity toward others, generosity, hope in Christ, and the glory of Christ the king. Resource type: Sermon (Complete) | Source: Homiletic and Pastoral Review | Author: Fr. Michael Berry, OCD Generous Faith A worship planning guide including hymns, prayers, reflections, and more. The theme is being generous and compassionate like God, based on Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15, John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16, and Psalms 51 and 78. Resource type: Sermon Starter/Outline | Source: Sacredise | Author: John van de Laar Generosity of Spirit "Generosity names not merely something we DO, but an admirable quality of character, something we ARE." Resource type: Article | Source: The Christian Reflection Project Generosity of Spirit "Generosity names not merely something we do, but an admirable quality of character, something we are." Resource type: Article | Source: The Christian Reflection Project | Author: Douglas V. Henry Generosity of Spirit - Study Guide Study Guide / Adult Sunday School lesson about Generosity. Liturgical elements and discussion questions included. Resource type: Study Guide | Source: The Christian Reflection Project | Author: Robert B. Kruschwitz Generosity Requires Self-Sacrifice The essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice. A sermon illustration by Sir Henry Taylor on the topic of generosity, appropriate for Luke 11:41 and Leviticus 25:35. Resource type: Sermon Illustration | Source: Preaching Today | Author: Henry Taylor Full Text Hymns on Generosity I'll Praise My Maker While I've BreathPD
Praise, My Soul, the King of HeavenPD
Bless the Lord, O My Soul©
See more hymns... Generosity Is the Secret of Life Life-changing generosity is not an occasional act; it is an all-inclusive lifestyle that lubricates everything we say, think, and do. Resource type: Article | Source: The High Calling | Author: Dave Peterson What God’s Generosity Means In Our Lives A sermon starter about God’s gift of generosity and what that generosity means in our lives with God and one another. Resource type: Sermon Starter/Outline | Source: Sermons That Work | Author: Angela V. Askew Generous Orthodoxy: A Theological Resource for a Way Forward Arguing in favor of what Hans Frei calls a "generous orthodoxy," this article by Kenneth H. Carter discusses the importance both of adhering to the ecumenical history of Christianity and of treating the views of others... Resource type: Article | Source: Ministry Matters | Author: Kenneth H Carter Cultivating a mindset of generosity A mindset of generosity encourages seeing everyone -- donors, members, clients, staff, friends -- as people with all kinds of gifts to share. Money is only one part of the equation. Resource type: Article | Source: Faith and Leadership | Author: David L. Odom The Offense of Jesus' Generosity As we strive to follow Jesus it is more often not his stinginess but his excessive generosity that offends us. Grace lies at the heart of our Lord. Grace lies at the heart our discipleship. Resource type: Article | Source: The Christian Century | Author: Peter J. Leithart

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