The Way of Generosity
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
This is a hard truth — at least, for me it is. I’m willing to give my time, energy, and even work towards the betterment of the church and others, but my money? That’s mine, or so I thought. I knew that being generous was a good thing, but I thought that if enough people were to contribute extravagantly then it’d make up for my lack of participation. But that was a misguidance of what I believed the good life truly was. I had believed the lie that if I were to let God be in control of my finances, then he would forget and leave me at the wayside… and maybe you believed that same lie just like me. But, there’s a better and more beautiful way that will make your soul become alive to the wonders of God and His moving within your heart when you see the blessing of being a person who gives freely and from a place of true joy.
When I was in college, my reservoir of funds weren’t as some may say, flowing with milk and honey. I ate ramen, ordered from the dollar menu, and had the weekly frozen meals. Nothing too dissimilar from the typical college experience. Some of the most memorable moments during my time there were all centered around a good meal with cherished friends. Let me tell you about one of my favorite memories of generosity that met in a moment that reminded me not only that others loved me, but that God Himself had seen me and loved me.
It was Thursday, November 11th: my birthday. But it was nonetheless a typical Thursday with my same routine. Woke up to the sound of my blaring alarm, took a spritz of a shower to wake my senses up, moseyed on over to my kitchen table with my books I set the night before, and off I went. After reading, I would head over back to my room to get myself ready for the day and leave the house for my daily commute to work. Yet a small interruption happened while on my way. My manager had called me telling me that she was having car problems and needed my help to start up her car. So with a gleeful heart, I went. The car was started, my boss was happy, so that meant I was in for a good day at work.
I arrived at work, and my manager left again but came back with the most pleasant of surprises. She came back with pancakes, eggs, and sausage with a good bit of Aunt Jemima syrup. I was happy. Not necessarily because of the meal, but because it reminded me that God saw me. On a day where I honestly feared that nobody would remember me, see me, or care, God had seen me and showed his caring heart for me by providing a warm meal for me that I never would’ve expected. The generosity of God had overtaken my every insecurity, because that’s what light does, doesn't it? Fill the dark crevices of our heart that believe the lies of Satan and fill it with the abounding truth of a benevolent God who is the person that my heart has been searching for my whole life.
As those who are apprentices of Jesus who bear His image, we’re called to be those who emit the love of God to our neighbors so that when they look at us, they can know that there’s a God who cares for them. But that’s not possible without you. In a world that’s full of division, strife, and heartache, the generosity from the people of God is what a world thirsting for hope desperately needs. So Christian, don’t fret. Know that your generosity isn’t in vain. It’s not done for the applause of men, or so that you can feel good about what you’ve provided, but it’s done so that the nearness of God would be an ever present reality to you that’s shared with others.
May these words encourage your heart and push you towards a generosity that's only possible through the Spirit of God working in your life. Blessings.