Generosity…..the key to joy!

Nancy Rupli

Generosity…..the key to joy!
I love the Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of “GENEROSITY”: “Free in giving or sharing.” What I love about it is the word “free”. There’s a great element of freedom when we adopt generosity into our hearts and our lives. When we hear the word generosity we immediately tend to think in monetary terms but there are so many more ways to give.  Many stirring situations will move us to a place of generosity but what is it that keeps us from a LIFE of generosity?

GENEROSITY AND OUR “STUFF”
Our money and our things! Jesus talked about true riches when He mentioned that everything we have on this earth can be stolen…it can get broken…it can get rusty…it can get moth-eaten. But the “treasures” we lay up towards eternity are simply that…eternal. Freedom lies in taking pleasure in our possessions but taking joy in the things that money can’t buy. I once heard someone say that just the right amount of money was “enough so as not to worry about your needs and not so much as to worry what to do with it!” There is no greater joy than giving! It gives us an entrance into the workings of God! How exhilarating it is to “feel lead” to give to someone and hear the words “I’ve been praying for that exact amount!”

Sometimes as Christians we confuse stinginess with being good stewards. I was so distraught to hear the story of a pastor who was irate when a restaurant automatically added the 15% tip to his bill. He scrawled on the receipt, “ I GIVE GOD 10%; WHY SHOULD I GIVE YOU 15%??” Sadly the picture of the receipt was posted on the internet and it went viral. The waitress not only received no tip but lost her job. It’s my personal opinion that the pastor is the one who should get fired…for gross misrepresentation of his Superior (a kind, loving, GENEROUS God). I always say,” If you’re not going to leave a big fat tip then don’t publicly pray and bless your food!” (so, tell us how you really feel, Nancy!)

GENEROSITY AND OUR TIME
My Mom will be 90 years old soon and is very healthy except for one thing…her mobility. To transport her from one place to the next is an exercise in patience. Not only does she move VERY slowly but she stops every four steps to chat. She lives with my sister and to help out I try to take her to most of her appointments.
No matter how patient I pretend to be she would always say, “I’m sorry I can’t move any faster; I know I’m frustrating you.” Now the last thing I want to do is to make my dear sweet mother feel like she’s frustrating me! I finally realized that the bottom line is that deep down I can be very stingy with my time. I made a decision to GIVE MY TIME GENEROUSLY to my Mom. FREEDOM! Free to enjoy my time with my Mom without thinking about all the things I have waiting for me to do. I’m grateful to God that He made this adjustment in my heart so that I’ll have joy remembering the last years with my Mom. Sometimes we can embrace the feeling that we’re being imposed upon as if our time is the most precious thing.
We lose our freedom to give and to share.



GENEROSITY AND OUR EMOTIONS
In the book of Romans Paul says we’re to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice”. We aren’t free to rejoice over someone else’s blessings if we’re focused on ourselves – what we are or are not getting. That focus will lead us down the path of envy which according to Proverbs is “rottenness to the bones.” Joy comes to us as we generously rejoice and celebrate the good things in the lives of others.

Notice that the scripture says that when someone is weeping the best thing we can do is to weep with them. We really make it harder than it is. We try to give explanations, prescriptions, and lofty words but when it comes right down to it the best thing we can do is cry together and say “I’m so sorry.”
Generosity is freedom …. If I’m weighing out a “should I or shouldn’t I” give this or do that, I pray I’ll err on the side of generosity. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”