In recent days, I have been reminded about generosity.  Not because the Thanksgiving and Christmas season is quickly approaching.  I found an interesting study this week regarding generosity by states (READ MORE).

In reality, I have been reminded about generosity for two reasons… my wife, and our church family.

My wife has a beautiful heart that is continually bent toward giving to others.  She expects nothing in return.  She simply loves to give.

Our church family is a beautiful picture of generously loving people.  Any time a need is mentioned, they go above and beyond to meet whatever need it might be.  They simply give.

There’s a small passage at the end of 1 Timothy that addresses this idea of generosity.

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up for treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they make take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Often times when we think of generosity, but Paul reminds us in these verses of some benefits we receive through being generous.

Generosity reveals my trust.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  1 Timothy 6:17

By giving away what God has given us, we make a profession of faith that the same God who supplies us with the resources we give away will be faithful to supply. Amy Carmichael served as a missionary to India for forty-five years. She revealed her trust when she said, “How much can I do without so I can have more to give away?”

For the Christ follower who gives a tithe (ten percent), they are professing a belief that God can and will do more with the ninety percent than we could ever do with the ten percent we give. One of the greatest life changes is allowing God to make us more generous as we trust Him.

In his book, I Like Giving, Brad Formsa reminds us, “…sometimes the line of giving and receiving disappears. You will find that out as you cultivate a lifestyle of giving.  What you get back is far greater than anything you give out.” (p. 35)

Generosity releases my treasure.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up for treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,…  1 Timothy 6:18-19

This is the same word picture that Jesus shared in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (add verse). We lay up treasures in heaven through generosity. In the financial market, some investors are involved in currency exchange. When dollar is weak, they will buy up Euros or Yen and then sell the currency to make money on every transaction. The Bible says that God has His own economy and heaven has its own currency. And when we are generous we store up treasure in heaven.

Now I know what many are thinking, what if I don’t want to release all of my treasure?  Actually many people have already released it and do not realize it.  TSA reports nearly $1 million dollars are left in TSA bins annually (READ MORE).

“As base a thing as money often is, it yet can be transformed into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor; it can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to Jesus and thus transform itself into heavenly values. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality!” – A.W. Tozer, Born After Midnight

Generosity reflects my heart.

..so that they make take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:19b

Chris McDaniel shares in  Igniting a Life of Generosity, “God doesn’t want to take ‘your’ money or TV or car or whatever else… He wants your heart.  He’s crazy about you.” (p. 17)

The heart of a greedy person believes they have earned what they have so they have the right to hang on to it. A generous person believes that everything they have is from the hand of God so it is easy to give away because it was a gift in first place.

Barbara Bush once said, “Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.”

The story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler, no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several gold coins. A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented, “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why give him gold?”

Alexander responded in royal fashion, “Copper coins would suit the beggar’s need, but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.”

Greatest joys of life is to experience a giving contest with God – He wins!