We have talked about how good stewardship breeds generosity and why generosity is important, this week we talk about how to show generosity. I am going to talk about generosity not just through money but also through our time and efforts. Here are three ways to show generosity.
Don’t wait until your income changes.
I have heard so many times especially in the recent past, “Pastor, I can’t afford to be generous right now. When I get more money, I will be able to be generous.” Here is what I know: If you wait until you get more money to be generous it will never happen. There will always be more and more “needs” that will require money to spend on them. So if a person waits until they get “enough” money to be generous, economics tells you that it won’t happen. John Maxwell writes, “If you desire to become a more generous person, don’t wait for your income to change. Change your heart.” So the first way to show your generosity is not to wait, be generous with your money now. It may be to the church, a humanitarian organization, a community organization or hopefully a combination of those. Wherever you choose to exercise your generosity, don’t wait.
Be generous with people
I continue to be amazed when I see what our Revive Community Care Food Pantry is able to accomplish. Every Wednesday, we serve between 70-80 people with only one paid employee. Everyone else is a volunteer. What is even more amazing is that some of those same volunteers are not here just Wednesday to help with clients, but they are here on Tuesday, unloading, unpacking and shelving the thousands of pounds of food we purchase every week. I have heard from some of our clients how much they appreciate the ministry we provide but also the people that provide it. If you aren’t able to volunteer for a ministry, you can be generous with people that you come in contact with day in and day out. Take that extra minute to not only ask someone, “How are you doing?” but to listen to their response. Take that extra few minutes to encourage a child or a teenager when you see them in church. Be intentional about looking for opportunities in your everyday life to be generous with your time with the people around you.
Be generous with your knowledge
I am impressed with how much knowledge each of my Joshua’s Men have acquired. You guys have knowledge in so many different areas. Be generous with that knowledge. Don’t just do something for someone, but show them how to do it if they don’t have that knowledge. You will be giving them value by not just doing something for them, but empowering them to do it for themselves in the future. When we moved into our first house in Pennsylvania we had a lot of small projects to do around the house, many of which I didn’t have the knowledge to accomplish. My stepfather would come and help me with these projects. But instead of just doing them, he invited me to not only watch what he was doing but to do the project with him watching. This is mentoring at its best. Invest your knowledge in others so they can be empowered to succeed in life.
Conversation
- In what ways are you intentional about looking for those opportunities to be generous with other people?
- How are you doing with being generous with your money?
- Who are you internally investing your knowledge to?
Recommended Reading
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