Last time we talked about how good stewardship breeds generosity but the question must be asked, “Why is generosity important?” Let’s first start with a definition of generosity. Generosity is defined as, “readiness or liberality in giving.”[1] Generosity then is this idea of giving to others in great measure to others. It is giving to others out of my abundance. It can be money, time, or other resources. It can be something small like taking a half hour to show someone how to do something they don’t know how to do or something large like helping to sponsor a child receive a Christian education. Generosity comes in all shapes and sizes. But why is it important?
It helps me from being too self-absorbed.
It is very easy for me to focus so much on meeting my own needs that I can forget others. Whether it is the shiny new toy or a new experience, I can sometimes have the tendency to only focus on myself. But when I am generous, when I am thinking of others and how I might be able to be generous to them, all of a sudden I am able to see outside myself. I am able to ask instead of, “What’s in it for me?” I can ask, “How can I give to others?”
It helps me add value to others
In many places throughout Scripture we are told to “Love another”. One of the ways to love another is through being generous and adding value to others. How do I do that? John Maxwell gives some ways to start:
- Value People: This means treating everyone with respect
- Know What People Value: This means listening and seeking to understand others
- Making Myself More Valuable: This means growing in order to give, because I cannot give what I do not possess.
- Do Things that God Values: Since He unconditionally loves people, so must I.
- When you value people, you open the door to generosity. And it becomes much easier to plan for and model generosity daily.[2]
I want to be a leader who adds value to the lives of people that I come in contact with.
It helps me be thankful for what I have.
Every time I am able to be generous to someone, I am also reminded of what I have been given. When I able to be generous with my finances, I am thankful for the money that God has blessed with me. When I am able to be generous with my time, I am thankful to God that He gave me another day of life to add value to others. When I am able to be generous with my abilities or knowledge, I am thankful to God that He has gifted me with these abilities and knowledge not for just meeting my needs but for meeting the needs of others.
It helps me be reminded of the generosity of God.
God has been so generous in His dealings with human beings. Whether it is bringing rain on the righteous as well as the wicked or giving us 2nd, 3rd, or millionth chances, God is a good and generous God. However, His generosity is on full display with the Incarnation when Christ Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:6–11.
[1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/generosity?s=t
[2] Today Matters, 247.
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