The Mystery of Generosity: Part 2
Last time, we addressed three effects of generosity in our lives and the lives of others. We discovered (1) generosity is contagious, (2), generosity destroys covetousness, and (3) generosity sets into motion the law of sowing and reaping. Picking up we’re we left off, let’s look at the final three supernatural things that the mystery of generosity does.
It’s a Result of Kingdom Vision
Cheerful generosity is the result of Kingdom vision. It’s a result of how we look at things like our possessions, our jobs, and all the other stuff we have. If we see God as the One who provides for us—the One who has generously given us the many blessings we have—then we tend to see what we’ve been given through a Kingdom perspective. This can inspire us to look for opportunities whereby we can do and give more for the Kingdom of God. And seeing the Kingdom of God advancing is something that produces joy and gladness in our hearts. With our Kingdom vision, then, we can be generous and cheerful givers.
The apostle Paul wrote, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV). Foreseeing what the action of Kingdom giving today produces in the future will cause our hearts to be joyful. When we see our money as seed invested in the Kingdom of God and how that brings about Jesus being glorified, we can gladly and cheerfully sow it.
It’s Convinced of God’s Sufficiency
Our generosity flows out of a heart attitude and conviction of God’s sufficiency. It’s not based on self-sufficiency. True generosity doesn’t flow out of my or your ability to give. Remember, it’s a grace gift from God. And any operation of grace in our lives operates by faith in God and in His sufficiency. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV), we read, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” This is God’s promise to us that He is able! What is He able to do? Well, in this case, He is able to make all grace abound toward us!
To really understand 2 Corinthians 9:8, we must understand what grace is. The word grace means God’s unmerited favor. It’s just God’s goodness to us. It’s not based on anything we have done to deserve it. The second thing grace means is God’s empowerment. God empowers us beyond ourselves. I like to say grace is God’s wind in our sails and His supernatural bias on our behalf. This is what God promises us when we put our conviction and our trust in Him to be our Provider and not see ourselves as such. So, if we have a deep conviction that God is our Provider, this is where we begin to see the grace of God and the empowerment of God act like wind in our sails.
What does it mean, then, for God to prosper us and for His grace to abound to us? It means having everything that we need to fulfill our purpose on earth with enough left over to be a blessing to others and assist them in theirs. That’s basically a biblical definition of prosperity, too. God wants you and me to have enough to meet our needs and something to give others to help them on their journey.
It Brings Glory to God
Ultimately, generosity brings glory to God. And that’s really what it’s all about. Every aspect of our lives must be for the glory of God and not for our glory, not for our name, not for our preferences, not for our achievements. It’s all for the glory of God! And look at what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:10–11 (NKJV): “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” You see the way we live, liberally and generously giving to others, brings glory to God because it impacts other people’s lives so that they, in turn, thank God.
Generosity impacts the lives of people in ways that cause them to thank God for answering their prayers and meeting their needs. So, the grace of giving is all for God’s glory. It’s not about us. It’s not something that comes naturally to us. It’s something that comes supernaturally, this gracious gift. And when we give cheerfully and generously to others, to God’s Kingdom, God deserves and receives all glory, honor, and thanks. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17 NKJV).
