Building a Generous Life

Do you sense it? There is a constant bombardment of the message “never be content…always seek to get more.” We see it in advertisements and hear it in the voices of some of our children. Some of us believe the message and think we need a bigger car or a better home or a newer TV. We need to have the trendy water or coffee or cereal brand. Most of the time, we don’t mind because we have the resources to buy these items.
One of the radical things that Jesus called some to do was to give up their wealth and follow Him. Others He told that following Him would cost them their lives. I cannot say that God is calling you to sell property and possessions and give the money away. BUT, I do know He is calling you to give yourself to Him and then give yourself away for others and the sake of the Gospel! That’s a radical call few really want to embrace.
Once someone knows Jesus; however, he or she views all giving as flowing from the perspective that “freely I have received, freely I give.” Whether you give money, time, service, your gifts and graces – and I hope you give all of these things – you give to honor God with your life! It is a sacrifice, but one given out of gratitude, not obligation.
Sacrificing is giving up something you want for the needs of others. It blesses the Lord in the giving. Sadly, there is a tendency to sacrifice something and ask: “What do I get out of it?” The weight of how much we sacrificed comes from the heart of wealth (how much can I afford to give?) rather than from our want (how much am I willing to sacrifice order to give?).

Sir John Templeton, founder of the Templeton funds with currently over $15 billion under his stewardship and management. His greatest living legacy is the Templeton Prize and progress in religion. He makes the following observation: "I have watched 100,000 families over my years of investment counseling. I always saw greater prosperity and happiness among those families who tithed* than among those who didn’t. Tithing is simply an outward expression of spiritual growth, and spiritual growth leads to material growth."

* The Greek and Hebrew words for "tithe" literally mean "tenth" (according to Strong's Dictionary), so the basic meaning of tithing involves giving 10% of something. Therefore, if I choose to give 10% of my paycheck to my church then I have given a "tithe" according to the most basic definition of that word. The New Testament tells us to give generously, and my 10% offering would certainly qualify as generous giving.