I am not wise enough or possess the wisdom of an A.W. Tozer to delve into the depths of God’s mysteries. But I do believe this is one of them. There is a profound reason that we each must reach out and touch others to feel truly generous. Others need us, and we possess the need to help. I believe God designed us to be generous, to give.
How a Thankful Heart Inspires Generosity, Dawn Franks
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce
a great harvest of generosity in you.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 – New Living Translation (NLT)
Premeditated Generosity- When you decide ahead of time how much to give and where you will be generous BEFORE your circumstances talk you out of it.
Look, a righteous king is coming!
And honest princes will rule under him.
Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert
and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land.
Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth,
and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it.
Even the hotheads will be full of sense and understanding.
Those who stammer will speak out plainly. In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes.
Scoundrels will not be respected. For fools speak foolishness and make evil plans.
They practice ungodliness and
spread false teachings about the Lord.
They deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty. The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil.
They plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor,
even when the cause of the poor is just. But generous people plan to do what is generous,
and they stand firm in their generosity.
Isaiah 32:1-8 (NLT)
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box.
Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:12-13 (NLT)