October 1 | Exploring the Generosity of God

Welcome to #Blogtober 2023!

Dear reader, as I shared in my previous post, we will spend the month of October exploring and examining the theme of generosity from a Christian perspective.

Joyful giving expresses our gratitude for God’s gift of grace through His son, Jesus Christ. The Lord is the source of our generosity. It’s because of God’s grace that we are supernaturally compelled to give our time, treasure, and talents in service to others. We do this not for our own selfish gain, but for God’s glory. When we are kind, compassionate, and loving towards others in their moment of need, we shine the light of Jesus brightly into that instant of their lives. That’s what generosity looks like.

-generosity-

The free and liberal bestowal of wealth, possessions or food upon others.
The generosity of God is shown in his free bestowal of grace upon undeserving sinners.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

During a stretch of his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul teaches them about generosity. He reminds them of the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping.

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul encourages the believers in Corinth to be known for their beneficence. He reminds them to give thanks to God for His repeated demonstrations of generosity which continually flow from the Good News of the work of Jesus Christ.

Beneficence—the act of generous giving—is something that should be the mark of every believer. We should exemplify generosity. We should never tire of doing good.

A life of generosity is marked by compassion, kindness, and love. As believers, we should freely give these things. We must remember to follow the example of Jesus, who unselfishly gave all He had in order to redeem us and reconcile us to the entirety of God.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

God is always at work around us. We are to find where He is at work and join Him. That’s what advancing the Kingdom through the Gospel looks like when it is lived out. God has given each of us the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. He intends us to use those things He has blessed us with to bless others with through our acts of compassion, kindness, and love.

Not a Christian? No problem. You can still be compassionate, kind, and loving. You can still do good. Moral integrity is not limited to Christians. As Christians, we should exemplify Jesus more. Personally, I think that even as a nonbeliever you’ll grow to understand and see Jesus better through being a generous giver.

In summary, God’s generosity toward us propels us to be generous in return. We must make investments of time, talent, and treasure in doing the work of the Kingdom. If we don’t invest (sowing ) then we can’t expect to see much of a return (reaping). We are to be cheerful givers—generously generous—as a sign of the marvelous work God has done in our lives. We never tire of doing good.

Remember: Jesus is the ultimate giver. You can’t out give God. Let Jesus fuel your generosity and be a cheerful giver.

Dear reader, I hope you’ll join me for our #Blogtober adventure focusing on the theme of generosity from a Christian perspective. May we be equipped and edified through this journey and most importantly—may God be exalted and glorified.

I look forward to seeing you in the “comments”!

Abundant Blessings,

Rainer Bantau

The Devotional Guy™

#bgbg2#BibleGateway