The Gift Of You: How Living Generously Reflects The Heart Of GodSample

Introduction: The Mystery of Generosity

Stories 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?