Generosity...

The holiday season is in full swing. In America that means black Friday shopping, traveling, Santa Clause, and of course my favorite holiday pastime overeating! It means spending money you don't have to impress people you don't really like anyway. It means consuming large amounts of stuff (food or merchandise) only to spend the next several months trying to work off the debt you incurred (financially or physically with excess poundage). In our "me" centered society of go more, spend more, do more, get more, how do we focus on what God would have us do? The holiday season is also the time when we feel compelled to be generous. It's the one time a year when soup kitchens and shelters can actually get provisions and volunteers to serve those they are intended to serve. So what I'd like to do is take a look at generosity, not only in the holiday season but every season. I have been struggling some lately with where to draw the line between providing for our family and being generous with our money. Here are some questions I've asked myself with the Bible in mind to gage my generosity. Try to answer them quickly, if you have to think a long time, you may need some work in that area.

1. When is the last time you gave freely to someone who can't offer you anything in return?

Check out the instances of Jesus or the apostles performing miracles. They gave their time, energy, and spiritual power so that people could be restored. If you don't think performing miracles was taxing on Jesus or the apostles, check out Jesus saying that power went out from him when the woman reached out and touched his garment (Mark 5:30, Luke 8:46). In every case, something so great was given that the recipient could never dream of repaying those who blessed them. It doesn't count if you blessed your children or someone else whom you have a vested interest in.

2. When you see a need, is your first inclination to meet it or to think of what it would cost you?

This one is a little tricky for me personally. This particular question can be summed up in the story of the rich young ruler (Matt 19:16, Mark 10:17, Luke 18:18). He wanted to gain eternal life and was willing to follow Jesus until he realized what it would cost him personally; namely all his earthly possessions. This does not mean you need to meet every need you see regardless of the cost, but that your should first reaction should be to help those who need it, not count the cost of what Jesus asks you to give up.

3. Do you give more emotionally to your relationships than you take?

How does your attitude and interaction with other people affect them? Does it build them up or tear them down? Emotional generosity is just as important as financial generosity. Are you constantly asking people to help carry your burdens by complaining or are you building up people by calling out their potential and encouraging them (Philippians 2:14, I Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25)?

These are a few questions I have asked myself lately about generosity. I hope you find them helpful and I hope they challenge you. Remember that Jesus came to save the lost, regardless of their station in life. Sometimes their physical and emotional needs have to met before they are able to receive the only one who can meet their most pressing need... Jesus.