There are many different ways to live a life of generosity. From the grace you pour out on those who’ve hurt you to the giving of your time through serving the local church and surrounding communities. Living a life of generosity is all-consuming and God-honoring. A life lived in generosity can be seen in the life and death of Jesus. He gave everything so that we could have life. So when we live a life of generosity, we mirror Jesus. Being generous with the things that do not belong to you. It’s interesting that giving to others, whether of my time or money, can be a difficult choice. It’s interesting because those things don’t even belong to me to begin with. Rather, our generous Creator gives us not only what we don’t deserve but things that we enjoy. God gives us time each day, finances, relationships, and so much more. He also gives us the responsibility of stewarding those things well. If the breath in my lungs belongs to God and if the money in my bank account belongs to God, who am I to be selfish with what is freely given to me? The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1 Being generous guards against selfishness. If what I have doesn’t belong to me to begin with, then shouldn’t I automatically live generously? Of course, but most of the time I don’t. And I don’t think I’m alone in that. However, it’s when I exercise giving that I step out of my own selfishness and put the needs of others before my own. This doesn’t always look the same for everyone. God calls us to obedience in different ways. Sometimes it means giving $10 or maybe $1,000. Sometimes it means leading a bible study or serving in the nursery. Whatever the case, generosity isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. It is, however, an act of obedience and a denying of self. “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 Being generous shows God’s faithfulness to us. The most amazing part of living a generous life is that it points to the generosity of our God. When you lead with generosity, you are trusting that God is for you. When you are living a life satisfied with what God has entrusted to you, so much so that you give to others, you stand firm in the knowledge of who He is. God’s generosity overflows on us each and every day. When we trust that God is our provider and protector, we can live with a heart of generosity, being quick to give of our time, money, and resources because we know that God is faithful to sustain us. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 Being generous should matter to us because it matters to God. When our love for God overflows onto others, we are living a life that reflects the generous nature of our Savior. Let your generosity bring hope to a dark world.

by Emily Rico