Living a Generous Life

Most of us would not consider ourselves in any way like Charles Dicken’s character Ebenezer Scrooge.  We consider ourselves far above the tight-fisted Mr. Potter from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  We may not be a miser, but the important question is: “Are we living a generous life?”

The Bible challenges God’s people to live a generous life.  God sets the example when He said He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.  Proverbs 11:25 instructs us: “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself”. God enriches the generous soul in ways that go far beyond money.  When we pour out on others we will receive a downpour of God’s watering on us.  I am reminded of an incident in the Old Testament about 4 leprous men in 2 Kings 7.  The men lived outside the city of Samaria because of their disease.  The city became under siege, and the people began to starve.  The 4 lepers decided to turn themselves over to the enemy.  However, when they walked into the enemy camp, they had all left.  They left behind their food, tents, horses, and gold and silver.  Those 4 men had a great feast and buried some of the treasure. They then said to one another: "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." (2 Kings 7:9).  They dare not keep it all to themselves, they simply must share their bounty with others.

God calls all of His children to live a generous life.  Even if we do not have much, we must always be willing to share with others.  We should be generous with our home and possessions.  We must be willing to give to others of our time, our money, and our encouragement.  This generous spirit should show up not only in the offering plate in church but in our tips at the restaurant.  May God’s Spirit convict us to live a generous life.