GENEROSITY

I keep sensing Generosity for this year. There are of course all kinds of ways to be and become generous. Money is surely one, but only one of the ways of the generous person.
If we are generous with money it is often because we are generous with other principles in our life. If we ‘give’ without generosity we could be giving from a religious legalistic heart and practice (such as the ‘tithe’) or for recognition of some kind. Money is really a simply laid-out issue: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Treasures encompass anything of significant value.

These are some things of significant value that I think we need to be especially generous about. First on my list would be: listening and being present. I personally believe this to be the most generous thing we can do. Other ways to be generous are to give and receive righteous behavior, wisdom, justice, forgiveness, peace, love, good works and deeds. The list might end with being generous with self-control and purposeful virtue.

All generosity is always two-fold: How generous we are to others and to ourselves. Without being generous to ourselves we will only be ‘nice’ to others, but not particularly generous. I find one of these much more difficult than the other. Without being generous to ourselves, we will not be generous with our money or anything else.

“But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.” (Matthew 6:20)

“A man can get only what God gives him.” Jesus