Generosity is an area of our life that we often struggle to relinquish to God. Jesus mentioned money, possessions, gratitude and generosity a great deal, so it was clearly very important to him, and a key area for us as His disciples to grasp!
Tim Mackie (Bible Project) speaking on generosity said “We’ve all heard this stuff before. But it’s about identifying the gaps between what Jesus said, and how much like Him we are!”
At the last Celebration, Joy and Steve from Besom, described the heart and mind transformation both they and others have experienced through ongoing acts of generosity. In fact personal transformation is one of the charity’s two biblical objectives. Acts 20:35 promises that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ and this has certainly been their experience.
John Mark Comer talks about generosity in relation to ‘Mindsets’ – because we come from different background’s with unique experiences, that have shaped our attitudes, perceptions and behaviours towards money, and generosity.
- The Abundance Mindset: We perceive God as a good father/provider. We live in a world of plenty where there is enough to go around. We are content and have an attitude of gratitude and generosity.
- The Scarcity Mindset: We perceive that we’re on our own, and there is not enough to go around. We need to hoard & hold on to ‘our stuff’, or it could be taken away. We protect our resources. We are discontent and have an attitude driven by fear or greed.
Reflect
Q – Do you feel that the 2 ‘mindset’ statements are accurate?
Q – Do you recognise yourself in either or both of them?
While these are perhaps the extremes, I actually think it’s possible to straddle both at times and stumble across blind spots or sticking points. Any ‘money issues’ we have may be revealed through:
- Poor budgeting skills and spending habits
- Responding to social/media pressure to spend and acquire
- Spending as emotional response to a crisis, or escapism
- Spending (or not spending) due to the need for a sense of control
- Envy or resentment towards others.
Social Scientists over recent decades have found that generous people are happier and healthier, and they will live longer & laugh more! Arthur C. Brooks for instance, works on the premise that human fulfilment requires shifting from ‘the external actions’ of materialism and greed, toward ‘the internal virtues’ like giving. And there is now a proven direct link to chemical reactions in the brain as a positive response to our generous actions!
Greed
In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns us to ‘Watch out! and be on our guard from all kinds of greed’
Jesus focused intensely on greed because of its power to destroy a person’s relationship with God and others. Greed is considered a deceitful sin as we rarely recognise it in ourselves, and it can be mistaken it for ambition. It is so easy to believe, or be taught, that more money (or more stuff) makes us happy, or brings security.
In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says “You cannot serve both God and money”. He directly contrasted God with “mammon” (money/wealth) suggesting Idolatry. Greed is not merely wanting more; it is a misplaced trust that shifts allegiance from God to possessions. Greed is fundamentally inward-focused!
Instead, Jesus encourages us to trust in God for all our needs:
- Give us today our daily bread … (Matthew 6:11)
- Do not worry, saying ‘what shall we eat… drink… wear…. Your heavenly father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31-32)
In the west particularly, we live in an age of consumerism, materialism, even hedonism, where TV & advertising and social media bombard us with messages of bigger, better & more! Today we are literally targeted by AI generated algorithm-based, focussed advertising. How often have you chatted about something you’d like or need, and next minute the ads appear on your digital devices? It’s more than just creepy!
Joshua Becker, author of ‘Things That Matter’ believes that the constant accumulation of ‘stuff’, and the need to fund and fulfil our desire for more stuff, is a distraction from us fulfilling our true purpose in God, saying:
“If you’re not minimising your possessions, you’re minimising your money, time, and potential.”
How many of us have cupboards/lofts/garages & sheds full of unused stuff but wouldn’t consider ourselves materialistic?
Reflect
Q – How do we manage the tensions between being a good steward and saving, with being God reliant, generous or giving to the poor?
The Poor
Jesus says that the poor will always be with us – which is very true, and it’s not a call to inaction! So how do we as Christians combat a society that encourages living beyond one’s means, borrowing, gambling & debt? In every community and across all social sectors we’re seeing poor mental health; an inability to budget or control spending, hoarding and waste.
Reflect
Q – How can we be different?
Q – Are we different?
Q – Are there areas of our life that are not aligning with God’s best?
Next month’s Equipping we will be taking a more practical approach to Generosity; looking at a range of small practical changes we can consider trying out and embedding into our lives. See you there!
