4 Ways to Show Generosity This Season
This past week in the United States we celebrated our Thanksgiving holiday and subsequently the start of the largest shopping season of the year. It’s easy to lose focus and lose sight of what we celebrate this week and to remain in a “thankful” posture. In light of that, that’s a primary reason why the Tuesday following the Thanksgiving holiday has been designated as “Giving Tuesday”.
GivingTuesday.org describes this day as a “Global Generosity Movement” that was “created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.”
Giving Tuesday can serve to remind all of us to be both thankful for what we blessed with as we recognize others in need as well as become more outwardly focused, looking to our communities and to those in need in order to find ways of helping them.
I would like to take the opportunity before Thanksgiving and before Giving Tuesday to get readers to start thinking about a purposed and intentional plan of generosity.
My challenge today is to encourage you to form a plan of some kind of “sacrificial” generosity or giving in one of four ways:
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- Financial
- Time
- Gifts/Talents
- Prayer
Financial
As we approach the Christmas holiday season, we should be reminded that it’s a season of giving because God first gave to us. Generosity started with him.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
We should also bear in mind that Jesus also gave…he gave the ultimate gift, one that we could never earn or deserve.
“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.” Galatians 1:4 (NLT)
“He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” 1 Timothy 2:6 (NLT)
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NLT)
When we give financially, the generosity that God and his son Jesus gave to us is overflowing out of us. We are an extension of His love to others.
“Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer?” 1 John 3:17 (GWT)
Challenge: Show generosity with your finances. Give financially this season, something above and beyond your normal. Pick an organization, ministry, charity, or person that is on your heart. (I’ve always encouraged supporting this organization where I volunteer.) If you’re not sure, pray about which one(s) to pick. In what ways can you be generous with your money this season?
Time
We also have an excellent example of generosity through time by Jesus leaving his place in heaven to physically come spend time with us.
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” John 6:38 (NLT)
“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form” Philippians 2:7 (NLT)
Not everyone is capable of showing generosity through finances, but we might be able to sacrifice some of our time just as Jesus did for us.
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ” John 13:14-15 (NLT)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies… And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Hebrews 13:2-3, 16 (NLT)
Challenge: Show generosity with your time and with serving (again, go above and beyond your normal). Pick an organization, ministry, charity, or person that is on your heart where you can physically go and serve and/or spend time with people. Where can you volunteer your time?
Gifts and talents
Similar to time (and even combined with it) showing generosity through our gifts and talents is another way we can emulate God’s example. Jesus used his own gifts and talents to serve others and acted as a model and example for us to follow.
“…I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ” John 13:14-15 (NLT)
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].” Matthew 16:24 (AMP)
God has given each and every one of us gifts and talents, and he wants us to use those to serve and love others.
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
Challenge: Show generosity by serving someone with your gifts and talents (again, this will include some time). Pick an organization, ministry, charity, or person that is on your heart who could benefit from the unique gifts you have to offer. What are some ways you could use what you do well to serve others this season?
Prayer
We see several examples throughout the gospels of Jesus praying for others. He showed generosity through his prayer life.
“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” Luke 5:16 (NLT)
“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” Luke 6:12 (NLT)
In John 17:1-26, Jesus prayed for his disciples and for all believers. We, too, are encouraged to pray and intercede for others. We can be generous with our prayers.
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16 (NLT)
Challenge: Show generosity with your prayers. Pray specifically about an organization, issue, or group of people on your heart. Be intentional, and remember to be sacrificial, praying above and beyond the norm. Find scriptures to pray. Spend some time on this. Make it a true gift of generosity on your part.
Take Some Practical Steps to Show Generosity This Upcoming Season (Do one or more of the following):
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Give financially to an organization, ministry, cause, or person that God places on your heart. This could be a monetary gift or purchasing something they need.
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Volunteer your time to serve an organization, ministry, cause, or person that God places on your heart.
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Use your gifts and talents to serve an organization, ministry, cause, or person that God places on your heart.
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Spend some intentional and purposeful time in prayer for an organization, ministry, cause, or person that God places on your heart.
What are some ways that you plan to show generosity this season? Share them with us by leaving a comment below.
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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
*Updated: Originally posted 11/25/2019
