GENEROSITY
Introduction:
“If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives.” Robert South.
Generosity is one of the most admired attributes in human relations. We appreciate and respect a person who gives freely and unselfishly of his time, money, and talent for charitable and other worthy causes.
We pay homage to those in life who have “gone beyond the call of duty” in there performance of tasks and in there carrying out of responsibilities. It has been said that “service is the rent we pay for our room on earth.”
But generosity is more than a temporary or occasional outburst of kindness and understanding. It is a fullness of heart born conviction. It is the summit of wisdom and sign of greatness.
Generosity is modesty in giving… and it loses its grace by being talked about. Charles Lamb says, “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than doing a good deed in secret and having it found out by accident,” but this is not true generosity.
Generosity is sincerity… it is courtesy and kindness in word and deed. It is understanding and sympathy given to those in trouble or those less fortunate.
Generosity is much more than getting by. It is giving what is required… and then a little more… to our jobs and our families and our community.
A truly generous person does not calculate everything he does in terms of an immediate reward. He gives of himself in faith and understanding… and his rewards end up being much greater.
Set your goals higher than minimum requirements for existence. The more generous your attitude the more generous will be your rewards.
“If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives.”
The Christian has been recipient of the world’s most extravagant generosity – the gift of God’s “only begotten Son.” Surely, Christians will reflect a spirit of being liberal and unselfish in his/her walk.
1) Every Christian doing his/her share would overflow the almost empty treasury of God’s house.
“And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make” Exodus 36: 5.
2) Christian generosity is not limited by a pledge or percentage, but goes beyond. “Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house” ( 1 Chronicles 29: 3).
3) The Lord judges generosity by the amount left rather than the amount given. “And He looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” Luke 21: 1-4).
4) The benevolent needs of man can be met only as Christians respond with generous hearts. “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4: 34-35).
Conclusion:
“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” 2 Corinthians 9: 6).