Generosity
Generosity is our faithful response as inheritors of the abundance of God’s creation. Central to the Christian life is the duty to fight the scarcity mindset that leads us to stress, doubt, and ultimately greed. Living into the truth that God always provides means feeling grateful that we have enough and can leave the rest for others.
"...a basic orientation to life."
The Paradox of Generosity
...a virtue, a habit of the hearing."
Paul the Evangelist (Gal. 5:22 & Eph. 4:32)
“In our giving, we partner with God in the healing and redemption of a frayed and broken world and the flourishing of humanity.”
William Enright
The Macedonians 2 Cor. 8:1-5
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us…
Leave the scarcity mindset behind.
“When the public good is replaced with concern for private rights, we substitute a contract for what was a covenant. When this happens, we become ordered for scarcity instead of abundance.”
“If we construct an economy where quantities are controlled, based on the belief there is never enough for all, then we must compete to determine the winners.”
Feelings of scarcity change how we feel and distort our judgment.
Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice
Is it an emotion or an exchange?
"Grace begets gratitude, which, in turn, widens our hearts toward greater goodness and love. Thankfulness is a feeling in response to gifts.”
Diana Butler Bass, Grateful – The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks
