When Your Whole World Changes - COVID-19 Special EditionSample

Generous Love

I’ve always thought of myself as a generous person, but a strange thing happened when I went to buy supplies. They were rationing some of the items we needed, and my first response was to get as much as I could! Even though we only needed one item, I got two because I could. Later, I felt guilty. What if someone who really needed those supplies didn’t get any?

Keeping a healthy, loving, and generous perspective in a crisis is a challenge—especially if you don’t know if you’ll have the resources you need to survive. 

But your generosity helps to express God’s love and justice in the world, and you will be rewarded.

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,

who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:5

The Bible also tells us that our generosity will result in thanksgiving to God!

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever.”

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

2 Corinthians 9:7–9, 11–13

How important is it for you to show God’s love by being a generous and cheerful giver, and how will you do it?