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Would you consider yourself to be a generous person? Oftentimes we equate being generous with the giving of our finances, and while it is, being generous includes way more than how we steward our money.
3. Love is generous.
Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
When I read these wise words of instruction, I think of generosity. There are numerous ways that we can do good and be generous. We can lend a hand when someone can use some help. We can meet a physical or financial need or do good and be generous with our time.
When it comes to doing good, I’d like to suggest some perhaps unconventional ways to be generous.
How about being generous with our listening? Instead of talking about ourselves or interrupting people to make our point and be heard, what if we were genuinely interested and generously listened to people?
Another form of generosity is with our love for one another. Especially when people act in ways we deem unlovable. The coworker that we find ourselves annoyed with or the distracted store clerk. What if rather than withholding love, the natural human tendency when we find it hard to love, it becomes all the more motivation to give them more love. When people behave in ways that repel love, it is often a signal that they need more of it.
What if we act wisely and do good by giving love?
I know that in my flesh my tendency can be to withhold love when people act in certain ways. But we don’t know what is going on in people’s lives. Years ago someone said something to me that has stuck with me. Treat everyone as if their heart were breaking – because it probably is. People are going through some really hard things. When they act in a way that repels love – strive to be love. To be generous with your love. And don’t try to muster this supernatural love in your own strength. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
How about being generous with your compassion? Trying honestly to see things from another person’s point of view.
Or being generous with the grace you extend to others.
Being generous with our words, our thoughts and our actions towards people. Seasoning our words with kindness and gentleness. Training our thoughts toward people to be loving and generous,
and believing the best about people.
Notice how these acts of generosity are not just in what we do but in who we are being.
How and with whom can you display the habit of love through generosity this week?
