From Gratitude to Generosityfeatured

After writing my last devotional on gratitude, I began to think the linkage between gratitude and generosity. In 1 Corinthians 9:7 the apostle Paul says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  I find it difficult to always give cheerfully of my time, talents and treasure. Sometimes I find it incredibly challenging to give up my plans when I am asked to use that time to bless someone else. God should have top priority as I choose how to use my talents and money, but sometimes my heart is reticent, and I only comply because I want to be viewed positively. So, how does one move from reluctance or compulsion to cheerful generosity?

It starts with profound gratitude to God. James 1:17 tells us “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights….” The apostle Paul reminds of the source of all gifts especially our most precious gift, Jesus Christ. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

As we acknowledge God’s generosity to us and respond gratefully, our hearts begin to be transformed. Whether it is our time, talent or our money, true gratitude begins to loosen our tight grip on what is “ours” and we begin to begin to look for opportunities to share what is “his.” Our hearts begin to change from stingy to cheerfully generous.

Evidence of a changed heart begins with thoughts and then behavior. In Matthew 10:8 as Jesus was sending his disciples out into the countryside, he said, “Freely you have received; freely give.” Jesus did not limit this command just to our money. On multiple occasions, Jesus commanded his disciples to be generous in all circumstances.

Jesus teaches us to be generous with forgiveness. When Peter asked him, “’Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matthew 18:21-22). This response is contrary to my basic instincts. It takes a genuinely generous heart to keep on forgiving when we are consistently wronged.

Later in his life, Peter wrote, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Clearly Peter had taken Jesus’s words to heart and advises us to be generous when we encounter difficult people. This does not come easily for me.

God’s standard of generous behavior is the opposite of behavior that our culture applauds.

• “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:39-42).
• “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
• “Be devoted to one another in love.Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

This is tough stuff! This standard seems almost impossibly high. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit, can our hearts overflow with gratitude for God’s indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) enabling us to respond generously to others. Gratitude breeds generosity when “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and in my case, bite my tongue! It is a cycle in which gratitude begets generous thoughts which beget generous behaviors. The cycle repeats because the results are delightful:

• “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38)
• “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25)

What a wonderful way to live! We are too weak to do it on our own (at least I am!). So let’s commit, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to participate fully in this divinely ordained cycle of gratitude and generosity. We can rely on his promise – refreshment will be generously poured over our laps!