GENEROSITY: A Lifestyle of Giving Freely and Living Openhandedly

Yesterday I began a four-week series on GENEROSITY. This powerful subject discussed in 2 Corinthians 8-9 is one so needed by all of us today. Our fallen and sinful culture demands we hold on to rights and resources. Yet this flies in the face of our Sovereign God is who is the absolute personification of generosity.

I defined generosity as a lifestyle of giving freely and living openhandedly. Generosity is not just an act we do, it is a life we live. It is a lifestyle of generous acts. Generosity is from the heart, not just actions taken by us.

In fact, I led our congregation through a simple statement even personified with gestures: “Right heart, Open hands.” When our heart is right, our hands are open. When our heart is where God wants it to be, all we have is open and available to God. In fact, everything we have is God’s and comes from God, therefore, it is His. The result: living life with open hands. Anything we buy, we should be willing to give away OR we should not buy it at all. Right heart, open hands!

As you live your life this week, consider becoming more generous. God is the ultimate picture of generosity because He gave His one and only Son for the sins of the world. We are never more like God than when we are generous. By the way, I am really convinced that IF we want to penetrate the lostness of this world, they will be moved to Christ by our generosity.

Anytime this week you are generous, you are confessing Jesus as Lord! This will change the world.