It’s Hard To Be Generous When You Are Stingy

By Chad McComas

God’s been working on me the last couple of years. He teaching me an amazing life-truth that I’m certain will totally change and revamp my life. He is teaching me to be generous. It’s not like I was that stingy, but I was very careful how I used “my” money. I had the concept that I needed to protect what I had worked hard to earn. I needed to be a good steward and make “my” money stretch and last. Therefore, I wasn’t as generous as I believe God wanted me to be. I was faithful in tithing, but beyond that I wasn’t very generous. I didn’t tip well…I didn’t give as I was often prompted to give.

Then I discovered one of the secrets to wealth…be generous! God has been telling us all along that it is very important to be generous in life. Notice what Solomon and Paul tell us:

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Generosity is a choice. It is a decision to remember who provides what we have and what He wants us to do with it. It is trusting that what we give away, God can give back. It is enjoying the adventure of giving every day. And giving involves so much more than just money, BUT it does involve money!

I can’t tell you how many people have come to me and promised to support a church or a ministry when they hit it rich, won the jackpot, inherited the farm, etc. They were planning to be generous then, but now they didn’t give anything away, not even their time. No wonder none of those folk have ever kept their promise…they never hit it big.

But, what I’ve seen is how God takes care of generous, cheerful givers. He continues to provide their needs as they are giving to the church, to family, to friends, to those in need. I’m not talking about reckless giving when we give away all we have and fail to make sure we can pay our obligations, but I’m talking about a generous spirit that permeates a life. I’m talking about the people who are like an oasis in life. When people are hurting they seem to know just what to do.

I want to be one of those people. You want to be one of those people. It’s said we can’t out give God. To this point in my life I’ve found this to be a true statement. So…the way to becoming generous is giving of ourselves and the resources that GOD provides us…period! And each day will be a wonderful adventure.