What is generosity?
Generosity is the quality of being kind and generous. To be generous is to show a readiness to give more than what is expected or necessary.
God is generous with us. He created a place for us to live – our planet Earth! He put it in just the right spot in His universe – any closer to the sun and it would be too hot for us…any further away and we would be freezing! He has provided delicious foods to keep us healthy and beautiful things outside to look at. We can look up at the stars tonight and admire His generous character! In fact, let’s pray and thank Him for it!
Throughout the Bible, we see the quality of generosity in Jesus' beautiful character. In Matthew (5:42, NLT), he said, “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” Also in Matthew, we read about a crowd of people who came to him – some couldn’t walk, speak, or see. The scripture says, “…he healed them all.” (Matthew 15:30, NLT) Jesus didn’t ignore them or just heal a few and then leave if he felt tired – it says he healed them ALL. He was generous with his energy, time and talents. What a lovely example for us to copy!
In Exodus we read about the Israelities generously giving materials in order to build the Tabernacle. Exodus (35:29, NLT) says, “So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the LORD.”
The opposite of generosity is selfishness. A selfish person wants to keep everything for themselves, not wanting to give or share. However, giving may not be a quality that comes naturally to us, so how can we be more generous? Like many skills, we can practice to get better at it! We can think of a way to be generous every day, or every week, with a friend or family member.
If we have extra of something, like food or toys, we can share with a neighbor or a local shelter for those who don’t have so much. What can you donate today?
If we have extra time, maybe we can help a friend with their homework or a neighbor rake their leaves or shovel snow. Who can you help today?
If we know someone who is sad or sick, we can use our talents to cheer them up! We can draw them a picture, sing them a song, or play an instrument for them. How can you use your talents for others today?
So, what is generosity? It’s the quality of being kind and generous, which means giving more than what is expected or necessary. Being generous makes us feel good because we know it pleases God. 2 Corinthians (9:7, NIV) says, “…God loves a cheerful giver.”
This video is from Christian Questions Podcast. For more information please go to https://christianquestions.com
