The Generosity of God
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
What is God’s standard of generosity? How generous is God towards his children? To what extent is God calling us to be generous?
Our God is a generous God. God calls each of us to be generous followers of his son Jesus.
Jesus modeled lavish generosity towards us in pouring himself out for each of us so that we might be filled by his emptying of himself.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth about God’s generosity. Paul said, “You know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
The extent of the wealth of Jesus illustrates the extent of the profound philanthropy of Jesus when he becomes poor for our sake so that we might have his riches.
God is astoundingly generous.
Paul rightly describes Jesus—the Son of God as being rich, which is an understatement. Therefore, when Jesus becomes poor for our sake in his generosity, we see the contrast, and we see how lavish and generous Jesus is towards us—in his giving and in his sacrificial pouring out of himself for our salvation.
The generous act of Jesus is his becoming poor, so that we might become rich in him.
When we consider our own generosity, we must take into account all that we have been given, as well as our own provision and wealth, which God has provided for us.
As Jesus poured himself out to fill others, we are also called to live generous lives where our own giving, and our own becoming poor, becomes the benefit and enriching of others.
May we take our generosity cues from our generous God who became poor in his generosity towards us so that we might have his abundant riches to share with others.
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Prayer For Generosity: “Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing that I do your will.” (Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491–1556)
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
