Generous. If you think about money when you see that
word, you are not alone. Most people
do. However, from a biblical
perspective, “generous” is a much bigger word.
For
example, Romans 13:12 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality”. In this case, “hospitality” does not just
mean “having someone over for supper” as we often think about it. Rather, it carries more the idea of being
generous with our time and “making room in our life for others”. Being hospitable and generous reminds us that
we are to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others” (Philippians 2:4).
Biblical
generosity can also be seen in how we use our words. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation
be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6).
This sort of graciousness and generosity can be very powerful. I have a friend who always overstates the
positive and treats people better than they deserve to be treated. He can see people’s faults, but he chooses to
focus on and talk about their strengths.
As a mutual friend pointed out, “Even if you do not agree with his
assessment, you want to his friend because you want to bask in the same
generous assessment that you hear him giving everything and everyone else”. My friend raises the level of the people
around him simply by being generous with his words.
In those
two areas, and many more, we are asked to live generously. We are not called to simply protect and build
up ourselves, but to live in such a way that others benefit from our
presence. Ultimately, a life that is
lived with an open hand and an open heart is a life that honours the God who is
generous to us in every way (“Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus…” – Philippians 2:1-8).
Generosity
is a good test of our true spiritual condition, because it is the natural
outcome of a spiritually healthy life!
“A generous
person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs
11:25)
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