Everyone loves a generous friend. A friend who is not stingy with their time or other resources, but someone who freely gives. Generous gifts build buildings, support ministries, and enrich our lives.
When the Israelites were building the tabernacle, they brought freewill offerings to pay for the construction project. Check out how much they gave:
- 28,000 pounds of gold
- 96,000 pounds of silver
- 67,000 pounds of bronze
Whoa!
Paul may have had this in mind when he wrote to the church in Corinth about giving. He used phrases like:
- Rich generosity
- Earnestness
- Eager willingness
- Eagerness to help
- Enthusiasm
- Generous gifts
- Generous on every occasion
Where does this sort of generosity come from? The key is in Paul’s opening statement about the Macedonians: “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…but they gave themselves first to the Lord.”
They gave themselves first to the Lord.
The ultimate source of generosity is the realization that everything I have is God’s. He owns it all; I’m just a steward.
The more I keep this in mind, the more generous I can be. The more generous I am, the more God can bless me. I am blessed to be a blessing.
Craig T. Owens 