The Heavenly Example of Earthly Generosity

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Mark 10:45

In reading various blogs from leadership writers who do not profess Christ, every single one puts a high priority on the character trait of generosity. A great question to ask them in this post-modern age is, “Why should anyone be generous if there are no moral absolutes but only self-imposed social constructs?” It would seem silly to give to others under any circumstance, since the survival of the fittest depends upon their strength of position first and foremost. How do we explain this juxtaposition?

The obvious reality is that there are real moral values. There is a real God who calls things right and wrong, and He places His eternal characteristics in our hearts where they cannot be denied (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Additionally, He reveals Himself through scripture so we can know what actions He treasures and what He disdains so we can learn to live accordingly.

At no other time of the year is generosity in the forefront of our minds more than at the Christmas season. In this holiday season, even those who tend to be a modern-day scrooge are thawed by the celebration of God giving us His own Son to come to earth to be the sacrifice for mankind. Then, the Son willingly complied with the Father’s plan by giving His life as a ransom for many and giving us a real-life example what it means to live a life of service.

Simply put, generosity is to be a natural byproduct of the Christian life. While it may not be listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit, people who have experienced love, joy, peace, etc. will likewise be givers. The first thing Zacchaeus did when he came to saving faith was to pledge half of his wealth to the poor. He was so grateful for what Christ had given him that his response could only be one of reciprocal generosity. Similarly, the opening chapter of the church in the book of Acts testifies of people lining up to sell what they had in order to share with other Christians who were under persecution. Compare this to the unconverted religious leaders who would not even take care of their needy parents (Mark 7:11).

In our homeschooling experience, it is vital that we teach our children to be generous, and this is done in the subtlest of ways: positive reinforcement. When there is only one roll left at dinner and an older brother offers it to his younger sister, that is the perfect time to positively reinforce the principle of generosity. If one child gets a fascinating Christmas gift and offers to share it with an interested sibling, that too is a manifestation of generosity that needs praise. Perhaps a sibling is in a hurry to make an appointment and another sibling offers to do his chores to alleviate the last minute stress. This is sure proof that good things are happening in that home.

Giving is part of the nature of God. It makes biblical sense that this should be in our character as well, not just during Christmas but even all year long.

Please join us on the second Tuesday of the month – or another day that works best for you – to pray and fast for our children’s perspective on generosity by praying for the following requests:

1. Pray that generosity will start in our homes regarding encouragement, service, and deference before exporting it to others outside the home.
   • But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. – 1 Timothy 5:4
2. Pray that our children will learn to be cheerful givers from the heart and not out of some kind of personal agenda.
   • 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
   • Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly. – 1 Chronicles 29:9
3. Pray that our children will understand that since each person is different, they will enjoy different expressions of generosity.
   • Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. – Romans 12:10-13
4. Pray that God will grant us opportunities to model generosity before our children’s eyes and that God would grant us additional time, energy, and resources in that giving.
   • I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. – Genesis 12:2
   • Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. – Philippians 3:17
5. Pray that our families will have a large view of life and not see it out of the lens of a scarcity mentality.
   • The generous soul will be made rich and he who waters will also be watered himself. – Proverbs 11:25
   • But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. – 2 Corinthians 9:6
6. Pray that our children will be genuinely excited about the successes of others.
   • Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3,4
7. Pray that our children will develop a perspective of “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” especially in this day of entitlement.
   • And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35
8. Pray that our children will not be bound up in the lust of the eyes so prominent in this culture.
   • For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. – 1 John 2:16
   • Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. – Colossians 3:2
9. Pray that God will give us parents wisdom in how to facilitate generosity in big ways and small ways in the lives of our children.
   • If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5
   • For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6