“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45
Being generous doesn’t come naturally. Just ask the parent of a preschooler.
Sharing is something that the parents of preschoolers have to teach their kids. These parents will model generosity, they will talk about sharing, and they will give lots of praise when their child shares with another. That’s when a big smile comes across that parent’s face.
As adults, some of us have the same problem about sharing and being generous. It can be hard, especially if we fear that we aren’t going to have enough if we are generous.
In the Bible, Jesus modeled generosity in His life and in the church, we see it reinforced in one another’s lives. In addition, as we give, many times we experience generosity in return.
Ultimately, generosity is a form of discipleship. It shapes our hearts as much as it meets needs. When we as a church model and teach generosity—not as obligation but as overflow of our life in Christ—we cultivate communities marked by gratitude, compassion, and trust. We as the church have the opportunity to stand out as living examples of our abundant and generous God.