GENEROSITY - THE GRACE OF GIVING

By Barry Shaw

Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. By His grace the Lord blesses each of us by providing that which enables us to give to others. Willingness to share from one’s heart is the true motivation of generosity. Paul called this Godly principle of generosity the “grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7

The widow’s offering described in the Book of Mark illustrates this principle. Jesus sat in the temple and watched the crowd putting money into the collection plate. He observed… “many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny.” She’d put in everything she had to live on. Jesus remarked to His disciples that the poor widow “put more into the treasury than all the others.” Mark 12:41-44

Generosity is an act of righteousness (Psalm 37:21). At God’s calling, Abram left ancient Babylon and went to the land of Canaan. There he acquired great wealth for he was blessed by the Lord. His nephew Lot also had acquired “flocks and herds and tents” but Lot’s men quarreled with Abram’s men because the dry land could not support them both. Being a generous man, Abram said to Lot: “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me...for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Genesis 13:8,9 Abram gave his nephew the opportunity to choose the best land for himself. Abram’s great faith in God blessed him with many things including the grace of giving and the Lord “credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul provides the most complete biblical discussion of the “grace of giving” (see 2 Corinthians 8 and 9). The Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted and were impoverished. Paul took up a collection for the physical relief of the Jerusalem brethren. Whereas the Christians of Macedonia gave generously out of poverty, the wealthy Corinthians were not fulfilling the pledges they’d previously made. Paul admonished the Corinthians to “excel in this grace of giving.” He reminded them: “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.” 2 Corinthians 9:6,7

“The real test of any person lies in what he gives. Giving is part of our worship to God. If we do not have the grace of giving, we should pray to God and ask Him to give us a generous, sharing spirit.” (Thru the Bible, J. Vernon McGee)

Barry N. Shaw writes from Applegate Valley, Oregon.