One huge thing to keep in mind about authentically Biblical generosity is, of course, John 3 16 - God so loved that world that He gave (gave - that’s generosity in action) His one and only Son that whosoever should believe in Him would have everlasting life.
It’s a very drastic different kind of generosity as compared to what the world considers generous.
We have probably all been witness to someone who claims to be generous, but who is sort of a miser in reality. Right?
A gift no long...
One huge thing to keep in mind about authentically Biblical generosity is, of course, John 3 16 - God so loved that world that He gave (gave - that’s generosity in action) His one and only Son that whosoever should believe in Him would have everlasting life.
It’s a very drastic different kind of generosity as compared to what the world considers generous.
We have probably all been witness to someone who claims to be generous, but who is sort of a miser in reality. Right?
A gift no longer belongs to the giver once it has been given away. It just doesn’t! Yet many of us act like it still does! If you gave it away, you are officially done with it. It is not yours.
Generosity is akin to unselfishness.
The trait of being willing to give
The spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others
Being willing to share
To willingly give help of support especially more than is usual or expected
A habit of giving without expecting anything in return
The virtue of being liberal in giving
How do we stand as compared and contrasted to that definition?
Metered generosity is not Biblical generosity.
It simply never has been and never will be.
God is generous. A Google search of Bible verses about this topic will bring up dozens of references.
God’s generosity is big - it is not metered and controlled.
If you find yourself weighing out what you give and when you give, may I pose a question?
When did that begin?
Whose teaching got you thinking that metered generosity was actually generous?
Where do you fit in the parable Jesus told about the workers in the vineyard when he hired workers all throughout the day, so some worked far shorter shifts than others and when he paid them their wages for their work, he first paid those who began working last. So those in the rear of the payout line were watching and thinking ooh we will get much more than that because we worked longer - but they got the same wage, exactly what they’d been promised when they were hired for the day’s work. And in the parable, the vineyard owner says Can I not be generous with what is mine?
Where do you fit in that parable (it’s in Matt 20 verses 1 thru 16)? Can not God be generous with what is His?
Of course He can!
So then the question becomes, well, what is His?
Every single thing.
Every red cent is His.
Nobody, Christian or not, owns anything. How do I know? Here’s how: my grandma used to say she had never seen a hearse pulling a U Haul. It ain’t going with you. Does not matter if they pack your coffin with gold coins surrounding your corpse, it stays in that coffin. God is eternal. It is His now, just as it all was from Day One.
It is not yours. It is not mine. It is all the Lord’s. And can He not do with what is His any old thing He chooses to do? Should His people kid themselves into thinking they are generous when they participate only in measured, metered out giving? They may be able to say they gave something, but that does not mean it was generous giving.
Metered generosity is not Biblical generosity.
People say stuff.
You will hear a lot of stuff, so much stuff, that people are gonna say and say and say.
Your job is to go the Word of God, dig into your Bible read it daily - and via prayer talk to your ABBA Father about what He says in His Word.
Obey Him. Trust Him and don’t be too quick to assume all the things people say must be what God is saying to you.
This applies to our level of generosity, not just to other parts of our lives.
What’s your attitude when you give? What’s your ability to totally let go of a gift as soon as you’ve given it? Who is teaching you and speaking into your life and over your life about money and generosity? Do they say it’s your money? Are you more stressed out about money now than you were before you started their program or bought their book (which you’re paying them for, don’t forget! They like to keep getting paid, just like the rest of us - keep that in mind folks!)? Can God rule and overrule your plans in this area? Are you generous with your time, your prayers for others, your love, your compassion, your radical obedience to Jesus too? Generosity is about a lot more than just a few measly bucks!
Does your ire get up regarding this topic? If so, it’s time to pray. Like, pray a lot.
And to get that Bible open. Read what it says. Jesus’ words in red in the NT will very quickly get your head on straight about Biblical generosity.
You will not give an account to some self-proclaimed money guru - and if you feel like you have to do that, would you ask God if that’s His will for your life in regard to His property? He’ll let you know! If you ask, He will give you the wisdom you need (see the book of James for that incredible promise!)
Real Biblical following of Jesus and only Jesus, not Jesus plus the Law, not Jesus plus a system or a program, not Jesus plus anything. Just Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life - not any old way, not whatever truth suits us - He isn’t an option. He is the Great I Am.
Real Biblical following of Jesus is crazy in how radical it actually is.
All your life will get turned upside down.
And it’s the only way you want to live, my friend. Because it’s the only way you want to die.
You are a steward.
But are you a truly generous steward?
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)"
2 Corinthians 9 10 & 11 “[God] will also supply and increase your store of seed … {11} You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion”
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)
Those are some fantastic promises. And they are for you, my friend.
Lord bless you and make you generous and guide you in good and wise and godly stewardship of all He has entrusted you with!
Thanks for joining me for this episode of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show - winner of the 2021 Spark Media Podcast Conference award for Best Solo Podcaster. What an honor to be blessed with that award! Every listener helped make that happen - so when I say thanks for listening, I really do mean it!
Lord bless you!
~ Jan
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