Going Above and Beyond: Becoming a Generous LeaderSample

Day One: A Posture of Generosity

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

In our world today, we're constantly bombarded with messages about buying more things, improving our lives, and achieving success. With messages like this coming at us from every direction, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of wealth and recognition. The message most of us unintentionally receive every day seems to be, "You don't have enough."

But as followers of Jesus, we're called to live life by a different standard — one that goes beyond the quest for more and into a life of generosity.

All throughout the Bible, we see how generosity plays an important role in the Christian life. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus instructs us to give to the poor and to do so without expecting any reward or attention. We're taught to practice righteousness and give to others secretly, knowing our reward is with God and not here on earth.

In 1 John 4:10, we're reminded of God's greatest act of generosity — the sacrifice of His Son so we could be made right with God. We're also challenged to become more like Jesus by dying to our fleshly desires (Galatians 2:20). But living a life of generosity doesn't mean giving up everything we have or reluctantly parting with our possessions out of guilt.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teaches us God loves a cheerful giver. Our giving is to be done with joy and a heart full of love for who God is and what He has done for us. When we give cheerfully, we reflect God's generosity and love for a broken world.

So, how can we have a posture of generosity in our daily lives? Well, it’s a daily discipline.

Just like exercise builds our muscles, practicing a posture of generosity will ultimately make us more like Christ.

Practicing generosity can look like lending a hand once a week to an elderly neighbor. It can be donating to a family in need. Generosity can also mean offering your time to a single parent in your community.

During this study, ask God to open your eyes to ways He wants to use your generosity to show His love to others.