Christmas is Generosity

Christmas is special. Christmas is for everyone. Christmas offers the greatest gifts we can ever receive. Christmas is generosity. Luke, in Acts 15:11, tells us, “We are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us...” John testifies similarly in John 1:16, “We all live off God’s generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.”

Knowing God’s great love and generosity to us, it is essential that we, as His followers, learn generosity. Why? Learning to be generous makes us more like God. Paul explains the premise in 2 Corinthians 9:13, “You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.” Of course, this also means generosity is a cure for our innate selfishness.

Generosity deepens our relationships with others. Jesus explains it simply in Matthew 6:21, “Your heart will be wherever your treasure is.”  Paul adds in 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, “Your generosity...not only provides for the needs of God's people, but also produces prayers of thanksgiving to God.” 

 The act of being generous also stretches our faith. In 2 Corinthians 9:13, Paul explains, “Your giving proves the reality of your faith...” In turn, our generosity blesses us back. In Deuteronomy 15:10, we learn, “Give generously to others and do so without a grudging heart; THEN BECAUSE OF THIS the Lord will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” Proverbs 11:25 adds, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”    

Finally, generosity is an investment for our future in eternity. Paul testifies in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “Tell them to use their money to do good...always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven -- the only safe investment for eternity! And they’ll live a fruitful Christian life down here as well.”         

May we embrace our own generous heart this Christmas season, realizing it is not about how much we give but rather our heart for giving. A generous heart is thoughtful, giving voluntarily and cheerfully.