Abundant Generosity
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“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
I asked my older couple friends if they would like to take a drive somewhere in the state just to get out of the house. I knew they had been confined due to health issues. We would take them wherever they wanted to go. She chose a State Park, and off we went for an adventure. The weather was perfect for a drive. We shared lunch together, explored the country roads, and finished the day with ice cream. It was a beautiful day viewing God’s creation, sharing in conversation, and being blessed with their friendship. She thanked us for being so generous with our time and our willingness to spend the day with them. We all received a blessing that day. They were generous in their friendship and wanted to share life together. We were all abundantly blessed by God.
What does it mean to be generous? Generosity is usually associated with financial gifts and material possessions. God wants us to give our tithe to Him and to give to others in need, but generosity is so much more. It is a simple act of giving oneself to enhance the well being of others. It is giving of your time, your talents, and your heart with compassion and love. It is not the size of the gift, but the heart that matters to God.
The Gospels tell the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with the gift of two fish and five barley loaves of bread from a young boy. Jesus took the boy’s lunch that he generously gave without regard for its smallness in comparison to the great need of the crowd. Jesus multiplied the gift. When we give to God what we have, God will multiply it in abundance. We focus on how little it is, while God focuses on our heart and our willingness to be generous.
Being generous with our time seems to be difficult as we try to decide our priorities and what really matters now in life. Time is our most precious possession. Sometimes we waste time by worrying if it is the right thing to do. How do you spend your time? Who do you prioritize with your time? Are you generous to yourself with your time? There is so much that can be time stealers.
Jesus tells us in John 10:10 – “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Abundance does not just mean having a lot. Abundance is the appreciation of life in its fullness and joy. It is a focus in giving thanks for the blessings of life. I believe Jesus calls us to abundant generosity. To live fully and generously.
In finding your way into this different life, you may feel you have nothing to give, feeling empty and cannot even grasp that an abundant life is even available or possible. Yes, healing time is needed. Then it becomes time to figure out who you are now and how do you live the life you now have. It is not getting stuck in feeling sorry for yourself and just existing.
Sometimes healing continues when you focus on doing something for someone else. It is getting out of your head and enjoying time with someone else. It is being generous with your time even when you feel unsure and do not think your giving will matter. I guarantee you will feel better about yourself when you give and focus on meeting a need. It will make you feel good for moments and gain purpose in life.
The fullness of life is given to us as a free gift from God through His Son, Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. God so generously gives us life. It may not be what we planned or expected. It will look different, but it is abundant and free. It is an appreciation that you still have a life. God still loves you, and God still gives you an abundance of grace and mercy. God is generous and supplies our needs but not always our wants and desires.
Abundant generosity is revealed fully in God’s love for you. If God only gave you salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross, that would be enough. But the Creator of the Universe (or as my friend, Mary, refers to God – the CEO of the Universe) desires to be your constant companion. God is so generous that He gives beautiful sunrises and sunsets for your enjoyment, provides for the daily needs of life, walks with you in sorrow and gives peace abundantly. God generously gives a way to communicate with Him through prayer, and He listens to every word and every heart. God abundantly cares and is present even in the storms of life.
Abundant Generosity is releasing control of your time, possessions, finances, and everything you are and have to God. It is appreciating the life you now have and living into this life. It is giving thanks for what you have and not focusing on what you do not have. It is being generous to yourself by enjoying time in God’s presence and not focused on trying to figure out life without God. It is simply caring about the relationships in your life and living fully in them by giving of yourself to enjoy being with them but not to fix, control or being consumed. Abundant life is living in God’s presence and allowing God to work through you to be generous with who you are. Receive the abundance of life lived in relationship with Jesus.
