The Gift of Generosity

This is the time of year when most people are focused on giving gifts. We shop with lists of gift ideas and people who are special to us. We keep track of sizes, styles, and preferences, and choose items based on the likelihood that each will be pleasing to its recipient.

Most dictionaries stress that generosity is related to giving. Some are specific enough to name “money and other valuable goods,” while others indicate that we can be generous even with our time and talents. Often mentioned is that generosity is, “The quality of being willing to share.”

It may be tempting, especially this time of year, to equate generosity with expensive gifts. We may feel more generous when we are able to associate a quantity (in number of items or amount of money spent) with what we are giving. Or we recognize that we have been the recipients of generous giving when we know that the gift was costly.

I was struck recently by two Biblical accounts of generosity. The first, in Mark 12:41-44, reminds us that our generosity is not measured by the size of the gift, but by how it relates to what we have been given. Basically, it redefines generous giving. The second, in 2 Corinthians 8, teaches that generous giving acknowledges that all that we have comes from God and belongs to Him, and that we are given much in order to give much as we give generously to provide for others who are in need.

This holiday season, I hope you’ll join me in recognizing that being generous does not simply relate to how many gifts will be under the tree and how much money was spent to acquire them. It isn’t about acquiring one more toy or video game, one more television or appliance, or one more pair of blue jeans or underwear (do people still give that?)

Instead, I hope, starting today with “Giving Tuesday,” we will all give generously of what we have been given in order to improve the lives of those in our community who do not have clothes to wear, food to eat, or a roof over their head. There are wonderful organizations that provide for those who are sick, hungry, in prison, abused, neglected, and homeless, and our generous giving will make a significant impact in the lives of those who truly need our encouragement and practical support.

What an incredible gift to give our community and our world, but most importantly, our children, who are learning to be generous givers by watching the choices we make today.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21