You Can Be Generous

We live in a world full of scarcities that rivals our call to generosity. During my life, I have walked through scarcities of food, love, patience, grace, time, and finances. At various times, I horded these precious items, only able to give out begrudging teaspoonfuls. The anxiety of having too little was overwhelming as my hands held tightly onto the little scraps of “enough” that I had mustered together. I was unable to give without losing the security that I desired.

Being a single mom, I realized long ago that I never had enough patience, time, or money left over for others. My house was never clean enough; my much-desired reality of laundry completion was never accomplished; I had neither time nor resources to spare.

But, secretly, in the deepest closet of my heart, I enjoyed this pursuit of being superwoman. I wanted to have a spotless house, perfect children, time to serve others, and time for myself. But I wanted it all on my own terms, without changing myself or giving anything. I simply could not be generous. I needed to change my mindset, to clean out the self-sufficiency in this closet of my heart for generosity to move in. But how?

My answer began here: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19-21). I had to admit that I was stuck in a cycle of giving based on what was left over, then internally sweating about what was now gone. How could I taste the fullness of God’s generosity if I was unable to test my own?

When we put our faith in God and His eternal treasures, a life of generosity can begin. The treasures of time, money, kindness, and patience do us no good stored up. But when received from God for His use through us, these resources can transform lives in the name of Jesus. God can be revealed to the broken world around us through our giving.

Is God enough? Will He be enough? Can I be generous without looking back?

Scripture promises, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

God will not disappoint; He is faithful to His promises. Trusting Him, I have repeatedly seen His riches and radical generosity. God wants to amaze us with His goodness.

How, then, can we unburden ourselves to be generous?

Take inventory of the immeasurable. Fix your eyes upward to see the abundance of God’s giving and the wealth that He offers—spiritual health, relational healing, emotional wholeness. He will overflow your accounts with unlimited blessings, friendships, security, grace, love, and patience.

Say these words today: “God, I will trust You. All I have was given by You. What I have is Yours to give.”

Amy Cox

Amy is the Alliance women’s director for the Great Lakes District of the C&MA. She lives on-site where she serves in inner-city ministry as the connections director at That Neighborhood Church in Toledo, Ohio. She is a mother to two wonderful sons and three rambunctious dogs who go by Dixie, Timmy, and Coco. In her spare time, she enjoys Argentinian tango classes.

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