Gratitude and Generosity
We have been looking at different aspects of Thanksgiving this month. Gratitude is foundational for growth in biblical faith as well as our own sense of happiness and well-being. But there is a natural outcome of our gratitude in addition to personal fulfilment and happiness. That natural outcome is generosity. In fact, the word Thanksgiving includes both words: Thanks – Giving. In our gratitude we recognize how generous God has been to us as Jesus gave his life so that we could have eternal life and be a part of the Kingdom of God.
God’s generosity influences us in two important ways. First, it gives us the ability to be generous. We can live lives of generosity because God is infinitely generous and will continue to meet our need and bless our lives as we align our hearts with his. Second, he gives us the perfect model for generosity. Jesus had few earthly possessions yet he was generous with his time, his abilities, his faith, his patience, and ultimately his life. He radiated the goodness of God in all that he did.
The apostle Paul gives an example of hard work, gratitude, and generosity. He shares the words of Jesus which were remembered and well known in the early church. Jesus said, It is much more happy to give than to receive (Acts 20:35 translation mine). Paul based his life on this key concept. Our experience supports it as well. Being on the receiving end things is fulfilling and sometimes even overwhelming. But being on the giving end and being able to make a difference in someone else’s life is far more fulfilling.
Our generosity does not need to be over the top to be significant. A generous heart is often demonstrated through the small everyday things of life. It is a helping hand at just the right time or a listening ear or a need that was met without expectation. This kind of generosity is so much more significant than the world’s version.
Soon people will be spending money that they do not have to try to prove their wealth, love, devotion, or sacrifice. They will compete to give the best gift. Some will expect something in return. Most will be stressed out. All this is foreign to God’s kind of generosity.
Be generous. Look for opportunities each day – not just because it is Thanksgiving or because Christmas is coming. Look for opportunities each day to be grateful but also to be generous. These attributes will bring a sense of fulfilment and purpose to our lives that we could not experience otherwise. I wish you all a truly happy and blessed thanks – giving!
Pastor Ed