Lately God has been working on me to become more generous. I always thought that I was generous but what I came to realize is that I was not, at least not how God would have me to be. See, I was more than happy to be generous when it was on my terms and in my comfort zone. I believed that this was normal and an okay way to be generous because let’s face it, no one likes to be out of their comfort zone so therefore many people stay there and don’t branch out. One of the sermons I heard at church right around Christmas really hit home for me and made me realize that I had the wrong idea about generosity. The sermon was about how whatever you keep is all that you will have, but whatever you give, God will multiply. This was not just about giving financially, nor was it about giving only to the church. It was about giving of your time, resources, and giving of whatever God calls of you. The guest preacher who spoke talked about how everything he has was God’s, he would give any and all away if that was what God called him to do. He also made it very clear that he was not about giving so that you can get. That is not what it is about, we give because that is what God calls us to do, we give so that God can bless others with our gift. When you give, God also blesses you in return. The most joyful people I know are the ones who truly give how God intended, God is blessing them for their generous heart! After hearing this it made me realize that I was giving with the wrong mindset. I was only giving what I thought I could give and not what God wanted me to give. Its a hard realization to come to, its never easy to realize an area that you have struggled with, especially if you didn’t even know about it. Since then I have completed a reading plan on youversion about generosity. The verses are to inspire us to give based on the way God has so graciously given. I pray that everyday God opens doors for me to be generous beyond my comfort zone!
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 6:9 (NIV)
