Written by I have learned that many of the things I once thought I knew were wrong. One of the principles I have misunderstood deals with generosity. I had always thought that I was generous. When I had something someone else needed I was always willing to give. Upon further reflection I have come to understand that is not true generosity. When I give away that which costs me nothing I am not really giving. The Bible says that David was a man after God’s heart.
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Acts 13:22 (ESV)
We all know that David was not perfect. The Bible is careful to point out David’s human frailties and moral failings. There is one story about David which reveals that he possessed a truly generous nature.
24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. 2 Samuel 24:24-25 (NIV)
I have learned that it is easy to give away things which cost me nothing. Many of us are glad to re-gift presents from certain family members or friends. Such expressions mean little.
When we give of our own time, talent or treasure then we are practicing true generosity. Being generous in times of economic hardship may require more faith than giving during times of plenty. Today there are many needs, and churches and other charitable organizations are finding that their capacity to help is greatly hampered because people are no longer giving with the same generosity with which they once gave.
Could it be that as individuals we are more generous in our own minds than we are in reality? The following story illustrates how much easier it is to be generous in theory than in practice.
A pastor was visiting one of the farmers who was in his congregation. The pastor asked the farmer, “Jim, if you had 100 cows and God asked you for fifty, would you give them to Him?”“Oh Yes, I sure would, preacher”“If you had 100 horses, Jim and God asked you for 50, would you give them to him?” “Oh, sure I would preacher, if I had 100 horses and God asked me for 50, I would be glad to give them to him?” “Jim, If you had two hogs, and God asked for one, would you give it to Him?” “Now that’s not fair preacher. You know I have two hogs.”
There are many around us in true need. They need us to give some of what we have. All Christians need to be more like our heavenly Father who is the most generous of all giver
“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 (ESV)
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