Article #19 FatherSpiritSon.com
Keys to Success Part II: Generosity!
The second in this series of articles as promised will be focusing on generosity. I sincerely believe that it is one of many keys to true success and will lead you to attain new levels of satisfaction previously never thought possible. In this article I plan to delve into what the word of God has to say about incorporating generosity into our everyday lives and of course what we can come to expect out of performing such actions on a regular basis. Many people may tend to think that generosity is most often associated with donating money, but the reality is that although that may be one form of it, certainly there are many other variations of it out there. For example, instead of donating money or in addition to it, we could contribute of our time, effort, or other resources instead. The truth of the matter is God has blessed each and every one of us with at least one, if not more, special gifts that we may in turn share with the world. (See V*1). In this process of sharing our gifts and talents with others we may reap the fruits of our labor in God’s perfect timing.
Although sowing and reaping should be a great motivation for being generous, I think if you examine the core aspects of generosity, it is better to focus on what you can do for others rather than what we will be getting out of it directly for ourselves. We need to learn to trust that God will provide for all of our needs and even some of our wants as long as they are in line with His divine will. (See V*2). We should remember that if we give generously and preferably with a cheerful attitude, God will most certainly compensate us with His special blessings. (See V*3). In this verse we can see that God will give us in a measure that is appropriate and abundant in accordance with our generosity.
Furthermore when you give of your gifts, talents, and resources you can rest assured that you are storing up heavenly treasures when you use them to honor, glorify, and acknowledge God. The word is clear that we should put heavenly treasures in priority over worldly desires, and ultimately we shouldn’t worry because if we serve God whole-heartedly it will be a byproduct of our actions to store up those heavenly treasures. We do not need to ever worry about God’s tally, for he is omnipotent and omniscient and will award you appropriately, whether it be in this world, in heaven, or in both God’s providence will be there for you.
One last point I would like to make before I close this article on generosity is how essential it is to give in a sacrificial manner, but maintain a cheerful spirit in the midst of your giving. At first glance they may not seem to go hand in hand, but I do sincerely believe that it is manageable to accomplish both of these simultaneously in our giving. We should not get to the point where our giving becomes routine or mundane because then we will likely miss out on the inexplicable joy that one may experience in assisting others.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my article. I will keep you all as readers in my prayers. As always feel free to submit any questions/ideas/comments/feedback to [email protected]. We check this e-mail regularly and will be sure to respond in a timely manner.
-Victor Nunez
V*1- “According to the grace given us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; 7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness” Romans 12:6-8 (HCSB)
V*2- “The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses. Proverbs 28:27 (HCSB)
V*3- “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over – will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (HCSB)