Glad and Generous Hearts

Tell them to use their money to do good. They 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.  (1Timothy 6:18)

Recently I have had regular occasions to consider what it means to be generous.   I have noticed an interesting phenomenon.  Often it seems as though those who have the least are actually the most ready to share with those in need.  It is an easy explanation to say that it is because they know what it is like to do without, and I agree that is the case.  But there is something unique about this characteristic of generosity that makes me smile and assures me the the Spirit is well at work in the world.

Anyone can give to those in need.  Wealthy individuals like Bill Gates and Sam Walton can and do make large donations to a variety of worthy charitable causes.  Most people I know couldn't approach that level of financial giving.  In fact, I suspect that all of the people I know combined cannot make that large of a monetary donation.  So I am very grateful for exceedingly wealthy people who support charities and worthy causes.  Our society is greatly enriched through their charitable giving.

But I am awed and amazed by a different kind of giving.  There is a woman in our congregation about whom I often say she never met an opportunity for helping those in need that she didn't like.  She gives of her time and her abilities and her finances with such a sense of joy that it is infectious.  And she is not alone.  I never cease to be awed and inspired by the people in the congregation who have just enough to get by, and who will express their utter delight at finding sales at the stores so that they can pick up extras for the community food pantry, pregnancy center, you name it.  While many of us are looking at clearance and  "buy-one-get-one-free" sales as an opportunity to stock our pantries for the ever-nebulous "just in case", they see them as an opportunity to buy more to give away.  That is what I call GENEROSITY.

It is also a work of the Holy Spirit.  Generosity is not a matter of how much is given, but rather of the readiness to share what one has and the joy with which one does so.  That kind of readiness and joy are matters of the heart and soul.  They flow out of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit to be conformed to Christ.  They are a sharing of love and faith and hope - love for others, faith in God's provision, and hope in the promise of a community that cares for one another in all circumstances and from all circumstances.

Our society needs wealthy donors who can support the arts, build museums, hospital wings, college campus buildings. But I'll take a community full of generous folks who take delight in getting an extra box of cereal for free so that they have some to share ANY DAY.  Generosity is infectious and a generous community of common, everyday people can transform lives and the world.  That is when we get a glimpse of the reign of God happening right here and now.  That - as surely as a faith community gathered around the communion table in worship - is a foretaste of the feast to come.

When have you experience generosity lately?  Did you notice the delight?

May you have glad and generous hearts.
PK (+)

p.s. - If you find a "buy-one-get-one-free" sale, may you shop till you drop and then drop your savings into the lives of those in need.  The delight will amaze you and just may infect others.