I f you’re like most people, when the subject of generosity

comes up, your mind goes straight to your time, your

talents and your treasure. But God has a very different

view of generosity — one that looks at the heart. In this

seven-day devotional, see what the Bible has to say about

this often misunderstood subject and how you can find

deeper joy in knowing God through

personal sacrifice.

THE MYSTERY OF GENEROSITY

S tories of incredible generosity can sometimes feel larger than life.

A millionaire who anonymously pays off the mortgage of a struggling single mother. A girl who donates a kidney to save her little brother’s life.

These stories bring tears to our eyes and a renewed sense of hope in human kindness. But while they make good movie scripts and inspire people to be more generous, they rarely reflect our personal experiences.

Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to be a “living sacrifice” that God can use for his glory. That’s not particularly easy or glamorous — it involves giving ourselves over to God so he can mold us into the people he wants us to be. This is critical to growing closer to him, but it can be hard to know how to do that day to day, especially when it comes to the topic of generosity.

For those of us who like to-do lists, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan for generosity. God equips each of us with different gifts and resources, and he asks each of us to be generous in different ways at different times. Sometimes he even tells us not to give! Doing generosity well requires that we don’t just follow a set of rules but instead look to God for individual guidance on how he wants us to live.

Over the next few days, we’ll look at five real-life stories of unexpected generosity — including some missteps — that can help you discover God’s heart for sacrificial living.

THINGS TO PONDER:

What are some popular movies or stories that come to mind when you

think of people living generously?

How do those stories make you

feel? Are they motivating or discouraging?

What would you say is your biggest

challenge to becoming a more generous person?

THIS DAY'S READING:

Romans 12:1-2

DAY 1

LEARNING TO TRUST

L en was a hard worker and a diligent saver. He stayed with the same company for years and was known in the office for working longer hours than almost anyone else. He was a model employee.

Len also loved God, and he knew that God cared for their family. But deep down Len struggled to trust God for their financial needs. This made it hard for Len to step out in faith when God opened new doors of opportunity.

Early in their marriage, God gave Len and his wife a passion for reaching people with the gospel. They were especially drawn to overseas missions, helping people to hear the Good News about Jesus for the very first time.

Len and his wife regularly gave money to missions, but after a few years they began to wonder if God wanted them to become missionaries themselves. To learn more, they took a trip overseas to see the work firsthand. What they saw was exciting and looked like a good fit for their skills. But Len’s fear of change and of leaving the security he felt in his current job ultimately held them back.

Len’s wife was disappointed, but God was gracious to Len and continued to use his heart for evangelism right where he was.

Over the years, Len’s position in the company continued to grow, and he also became very good at investing. During this time, God slowly grew Len’s trust in him. This allowed Len and his wife to give a greater percentage of their income to missions. They were also able to pay for their son’s college education at a Christian university, and as a result, that son is now serving in missions debt free.

Len also shared his faith with many people at the company over the coming years, and some are now walking with Christ because of his influence.

Like Len, you may struggle with trusting God to provide for your needs. But as you get to know his character better, you’ll discover he not only wants to provide well for you but also to give generously to others through you. And if you’re thinking of a role in missions, let God set you free to trust him — he’s the most faithful provider!

THINGS TO PONDER:

Can you think of a time when you

missed an exciting opportunity

because you didn’t trust God?

How has God been gracious to you even when you

didn’t trust him?

What is one way God is asking you to trust him more

today?

THIS DAY'S READING:

2 Corinthians 9:10-11

DAY 2

PRACTICING DISCERNMENT

A nn and Daniel were part of a young ministry that didn’t have its own building. The rental arrangement was complicated, forcing them to move regularly. While many people longed to purchase their own

building to avoid these frustrations, the cost of land and construction was high, and they knew it would take years of saving.

One day the ministry’s leadership learned about an opportunity to partner with another ministry in the construction of a nearby building. The ministry that Ann and Daniel were a part of wouldn’t share ownership of the property, but they would secure the right to lease the building long term by helping to pay for construction. The upfront cost would stretch their ministry, and they would still have to pay monthly rent, but they would avoid many of the frustrations of their current situation.

The down payment was well above their ministry’s cash on hand, so their leaders started a campaign to raise the money. Ann and Daniel felt tremendous pressure to participate, but something held them back.

They both felt concern that their ministry’s leaders had rushed into the agreement without taking adequate time for prayer and discernment. They also had specific concerns about the wisdom of the business arrangement and the size of the down payment.

Ann and Daniel met with one of their ministry’s leaders to ask some questions and express their concern. Unfortunately the conversation only reinforced their apprehension. Ann and Daniel finally decided to part ways with the ministry due to their concerns.

A few years later, Ann and Daniel learned that the ministry had indeed run into serious financial trouble down the road and that some key leaders had been asked to step down as a result.

What can we learn from this story?

God is pleased by generosity, but he also wants us to be wise. Sometimes this requires asking questions to determine how our money, resources or time will be used. One great way to discover a ministry’s fiscal responsibility is to see if they have seals from the Evangelical Council for Financial

Accountability and Guidestar. Other times it’s simply a matter of asking God for discernment before making a particular decision.

Either way, learning more about God’s character through Scripture and growing

in our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit are critical to

becoming wise and generous

stewards.

THINGS TO PONDER:

Have you ever felt God telling you not

to give toward a particular request,

whether it was giving of your

time, your talents or your treasure?

Why do you think giving may not be the right choice in certain situations?

What are some ways you

can confirm God’s will for a

particular giving opportunity?

THIS DAY'S READING:

Proverbs 3:13-18; Proverbs 21:3

DAY 3

NAVIGATING TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

M is grew up on a small island in Indonesia where education and job options were sparse. But with a passion for learning, an incredibly supportive family, and God’s help, Mis was able to complete school and

start a promising career in government on the mainland.

This career would have provided Mis with a great salary and the promise of a comfortable retirement. It would also have allowed her to bless her family back home, showing her appreciation for all they’d done to support her over the years. God had provided well for Mis so far, and she was able to live generously with her income.

But then God asked Mis to make a surprising decision; he asked her to walk away from her secure career in order to become a Bible translator for her language. Mis wrestled with this choice, unsure at first if it was really God’s direction. But ultimately she said yes, turning from her secure career to a new job she knew little about.

As a Bible translator, Mis has been able to bless her family and community with the New Testament in her language — a gift they have dreamed of for years. She is also training as a consultant to translation teams in other languages, sharing the expertise she gained so that many more people can be blessed with God’s Word in their own languages.

Sometimes generosity feels easy and natural; other times what God asks us to do doesn’t make sense in the moment. It’s at those times, perhaps more than ever, when we need to have a close relationship with him in order to be sure of his direction and to trust that he will provide when we obey.

THINGS TO PONDER:

Has God ever asked you to do something that

didn’t make sense or caused you

fear?

If so, how did you respond and what

was the result?

How has God’s faithfulness in

those situations helped you to

know or trust him better?

THIS DAY'S READING:

Matthew 6:19-34

DAY 4

FOCUSING ON JOY

A s part of his job at a large Christian ministry, Josh often went to visit people who had given financial gifts. Not only did he want to thank them for their generosity, but he also enjoyed getting to know each

person and being able to pray with them.

One day Josh went to the home of an older woman who had recently given a sizable amount from an inheritance. Grateful for her incredible generosity, Josh thanked her warmly and asked how he could pray for her. When they had finished and Josh was getting ready to leave, the woman remarked how much she’d enjoyed giving that gift and how she wished she could do it all over again.

Being on a fixed income, she didn’t have any more money in the bank that she could give. But after a moment of reflection, she went to a side table and pulled out two more things she wanted to pass along — a five-dollar bill and a chocolate bar. She insisted that Josh receive both of these on behalf of the organization.

From a human perspective, these additional gifts could be seen as rather inconsequential compared to the first sizable gift. But because of her true joy in giving, Josh was touched in a powerful way both spiritually and emotionally. Her example has impacted his own approach to giving, and he loves to share this story with others as an example of God’s love of generosity. It’s this heart of gratitude and joy that’s far more important to God than the earthly significance of our gifts.

THINGS TO PONDER:

Have you ever been excited to give someone a gift even though

it required a sacrifice?

Was there a time when giving didn’t feel joyful? What

was different about that situation?

What’s one generous thing you could do this week that would bring

joy?

THIS DAY'S READING:

Luke 21:1-4

DAY 5

THE HUMILITY TO RECEIVE

A few years ago, Jenn and her mom began volunteering with a ministry that serves kids from marginalized parts of town that most people don’t dare visit, especially at night.

Many of the kids live in conditions that are hard for many of us to imagine. Some only get a full meal at school. Most have one or both parents in jail or know a friend or sibling who’s been sent there. Families often live with multiple generations crammed into a single small home or motel room.

Jenn and her mom didn’t quite know what to expect the first day they volunteered. Jenn’s mom has been a school teacher for many years, so she figured her role in the ministry would be to keep kids in line. But she was stunned when many of the kids who experienced such hardship turned out to be the most affectionate, grateful and kind children she had ever worked with!

The kids often don’t get enough to eat at home, so a full meal once a week is a welcome break. Even though there was plenty of food for all the children, Jenn’s mom saw a boy split a sandwich with a younger sibling so she wouldn’t be hungry — a generous act for any kid, but especially one with his own hungry stomach.

No one had told this little boy to share his food with his sister; he had simply grown up in an environment where very little was his and his alone. Everything needed to be shared. Generosity didn’t require a second thought.

Observing how these kids share and take care of each other has taught Jenn the importance of community — not only being willing to make sacrifices for the needs of others but also having the humility to accept help when it’s needed.

Our culture places a high value on self-sufficiency, but God’s design requires dependence, both on him and on Christian community. This can be a difficult principle to embrace, but it’s critical to understanding and living the life of generosity God designed for us.

THINGS TO PONDER:

How have you experienced the

generosity of others during a time of need?

Can you think of a time where it was

hard for you to accept someone’s

generosity?

What has both giving and

receiving taught you about God’s

character?

THIS DAY'S READING:

Luke 21:1-4

DAY 6

GENEROSITY GOD’S WAY

G enerosity is about becoming more like God.

Think about some of the ways he’s modeled generosity in our lives. He formed us in his own image (Genesis 1:27). He loved us when we were

sinners (Romans 5:8). He provided the payment for our sins (1 John 2:2) and the gift of adoption into his family (John 1:12-13). He supplies for all our needs (Philippians 4:19).

And then, amazingly, the creator of the universe — the one who can speak and accomplish the impossible — chooses to invite imperfect and limited human beings to participate in his work. It’s not that he can’t do it without us but that he wants to include us. What an amazing gift!

As you live in relationship with God and model his character, generosity becomes a part of who you are. It’s more about your attitudes and motivation in giving than the amount of time or money you’re able to share — you don’t have to be rich or uniquely gifted to make a meaningful difference for eternity!

As you grow deeper in relationship with God through his Word and prayer, he may begin to direct your life in ways you wouldn’t expect. Like Len, he may ask you to give more generously than you’re comfortable with. Or like

Mis, he may ask you to give up one form of generosity for another. He may tell you to hold back from a particular opportunity for giving, like Ann

and Daniel. Or perhaps he’ll prompt you to give a gift that feels smaller than you’d like it to be, like the woman in Josh’s story.

Ultimately, God wants your heart, motivations and obedience. As you experience the joy of knowing him

more intimately and his character grows inside you, generosity will naturally flow out.

THINGS TO PONDER:

Why do you think God is so

interested in our attitudes and motivations?

What is one thing God has shown you

about generosity during these last

few days?

What is a practical step you can take

today toward growing more like Christ in the area

of generosity?

We hope you’ve enjoyed this

devotional! If you thought of friends

or family who would enjoy it too, please feel free to

share!

THIS DAY'S READING:

1 Corinthians 13:3; Philippians 2:1-4

DAY 7