Reconciliation.Cafe

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, will be given into your lap. For whatever measure you measure out will be measured back to you. – Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭TLV

If you’ve been a believer in Jesus Christ for any amount of time, you are most likely aware that we are called to be a generous people. 

What does that mean?

One synonym that Merriam-Webster gives for “generous” is “openhanded”. 

I love that. Living not too attached to something. No tight grips. If God says give, you give. 

It’s not really about the material things. It’s about our willingness to release, so someone else can benefit. 

 He answered them, saying, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do the same. – Luke 3:11 TLV

When you see true generosity, it’s awe-inspiring. Sadly, most of us have never experienced true unadulterated generosity. People today use generosity as a favor-reserved-for-later exchange system. Gaining influence is currency for the day. When you think of a “generous” person, the image you receive is someone who is wealthy and gives because they can. “They just give away so much. They just love so well.” The problem with the only the wealthy or well-off can be generous philosophy, is that this isn’t the theology of Jesus. If I only give because I can, then there is NO sacrifice. Not all, but most wealthy people give because of tax breaks, or other reasons that could be a benefit to them down the road. Some give because of how it makes them be perceived by others. They act of being generous helps them gain favor amongst their peers or people who have only known poverty or money-troubles. Sometimes giving is motivated by the opinion of others. This is one of the reasons the Bible warns of wealth. Wealthy people tend to hold most of the power. And if your heart isn’t right, even in your giving you’re tainted by selfish ambition. 

Generosity to gain influence is manipulation. 

Love with condition is not the example of Christ. 

Why would the Bible so explicably warn of the dangers of money, and then require us to do something that in our minds requires us to have money? 

You don’t have to be wealthy(in the world’s standards) to be generous.

The act of Generosity is less about money and more about sacrificing for others. 

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. – Luke 6:30 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 TLV

The principle of Sowing and Reaping is a real thing. However, motives matter? If motives didn’t matter, why would Jesus spend so much time addressing the motives, character, hearts of the Pharisees and religious leaders? 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. – Matthew 23:25-28 ESV

Motives matter. Always have. Always will. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves, looking out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4 TLV

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. – Proverbs 11:25 ESV

The cool thing is we have the Counselor with us to keep our motives in check. We just have to invite Him to evaluate and illuminate anything that needs addressing.

Do you have some thoughts on “generosity” and how we’re supposed to walk it out? I’d love to hear them.