Hearts, not money, create generosity.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

It is wrong to believe that only the wealthiest people are truly generous. The truth is that generosity is a heart issue, not a cash-flow issue. If a person is truly generous, they give what they have gladly. They share life, resources, time, conversation, love, and yes… money. The motivation is to serve Christ, advance the gospel, and pour out God’s grace upon others with all the resources God has given them.

I grew up with the legalistic tithe being hammered into every Sunday morning offering. It might have filled the offering place with guilt-induced emptying of pockets, but I don’t believe it created biblical generosity. The New Testament NEVER once commands we give away exactly 10% of our cash. There is never a number. In fact, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their nit-picking tithing right down to jars of spices in the kitchen cabinets (Matthew 23:23)! It is possible to tithe fastidiously from a sinful, pride-filled, judgmental heart (Luke 18:9-13). Tithing can be sin!

Generous giving however flows from the grace of God. We give generously because God graces us generously! We don’t wait until we have “too much” to give it away. We give from what we have, not what we don’t have. Even in affliction, in difficulty, in financial downturns, in (ahem) inflationary economies we give as much as we can! We should never hold back. Why? We have to give with hearts of joy (not mere duty) that puts these experiences in perspective (in the case of the Macedonians it was poverty that they looked beyond) to concentrate instead on thankfulness for all the grace God is doing in and among us. That unleashes true wealth to be shared as we advance the gospel and help the needy.

I pray consistently that my heart will generously love God, love others, and give generously the very best to His church, for my Savior, in love! I want to invest with love and generosity in my relationships, my family, my church, and my world!