A few words on generosity. Recently a new widow in her late 60s came to me for prayer. Along with grief, the death of her husband brought financial needs. She referenced that her son-in-law was a multimillionaire & said, if necessary, he could make her a loan and charge interest.
A multimillionaire charging an elderly parent interest. I’m a bit baffled. Speaking in generalities here but what has happened to generosity? Have we, in our 1st world prosperity, simply grown increasingly selfish? Is it true what they say? The more we have, the less we share?
I’m married to a generous guy. One day he came charging in the house, wild-eyed, & made a beeline for the checkbook. “Babe, whatcha doing?” Him: “I’m feeling selfish!! That’s what!” I’ve thought about it many times. He knew the cure for his wave of selfishness would be to give.
Few things on earth will make us more miserable than selfishness. Our hoarding has hardened our hearts & our love of money has robbed us blind. We were made in the image of a God who’s a Giver, not a taker. Scripture speaks over & over about generosity & what a grievous mistake->
It will be to have dishonored the poor. The widow. The orphan. We are holding onto our money like we can keep it & we can’t. They can stuff all our dollar bills in our caskets next to our stone-cold bodies & we still will not manage to take a single dime with us to the next life.
I think generosity is a muscle strengthened with use. There are so many opportunities to help people. And also just to bless people. Pay for their coffee. Pick up a young family’s meal at a restaurant. Slip a gift card to a pastor’s wife. Generous people are much happier people.
