From the book ‘God is in the Small Stuff and it all matters, Bruce and Stan shared. . . .
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be satisfied. (Proverbs 11:25 NLT)
The greatest cure for greed is generosity. It’s also one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. We’re not talking about giving your old clothes to the Salvation Army (the only thing you’ll probably feel by doing that is the satisfaction of cleaning out your closet). The only way to feel the satisfaction of true generosity is to give away something of value.
This takes generosity beyond money to a realm that includes both possessions and time. That’s what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote that we should “be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them” (1 Timothy 6:18 NLT).
The spirit of generosity has become rather stylish in recent years, and that’s probably a good thing. The danger in popularizing generosity is that some people might want to publicize their giving. When that happens you have to wonder about their true motive. There’s also the issue of giving out of your abundance as opposed to giving sacrificially. Both kinds of giving can be useful, but only one gets God’s attention.
When it comes to generosity, ask yourself two questions. First, does your generosity come from your heart? A truly generous person gives out of love and compassion, not from a desire to impress others. You also want to give cheerfully, not grumpily. Generosity is incompatible with criticism, resentment, or regret.
Here’s another question to ask. Is your generosity productive? In other words are you giving money, stuff, or time away without accepting responsibility for the consequences? Don’t be foolish. Pay attention to the details of where your money is going. Remember, each time you give to those “in need,” you’re making an investment of God’s resources. Invest wisely. Be a good money manger by making sure your generosity is productive.
. . . In the Small Stuff
* Money is like fertilizer: It’s not much good unless it is spread around.
* If you want to be needy—hoard.
* If you want to be poor, grasp.
*If you want to be rich, give.
*Think of your net worth as what you have given rather than what you have.
*Give money to people or organizations you can stay personally involved with.
*Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it before you are asked.
*Filling an existing need can be as valuable as anticipating a new one.
*Give the gift of time. It’s a gift more valuable than money can buy.
*Giving is more valuable when you align it with your interests and goals.
*The measure of your success is not what’s in your wallet but what’s in your heart.
*Support a missionary financially.
* When you give a gift, expect nothing in return.
* Generosity does not include giving away something you will never miss.
* The more specific you make your giving, the more productive it will be.
*Before you financially support an individual or organization, find out if the following characteristics are evident: purpose, strategy, and accountability.
*Share your blessings with others.
*The generous person always has more than enough; the greedy person never has enough.
~Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz, God is in the Small Stuff and it all matters, Uhrichsvillw, Ohio: Promised Press, 1998). 173-77
