The Character of Christ: Acting Like JesusSample

The Generosity of Christ

There’s something about stories of extreme generosity that make us feel good. Coworkers pitching in to buy a car for someone who has been walking miles to work. A wealthy person seeking to give his or her fortune away. A lavish tip left in a restaurant. A stranger paying off the debts at a hospital. It’s not really that we wish we had something generous like this happen to us as much as we recognize the intrinsic goodness of generosity like this. It’s right and fitting, and we wish we saw it more.

The reason we feel this way is because God hardwired generosity into us. It’s part of what makes us human, and it’s a noticeable character trait of Jesus. That might seem odd to you because Jesus had little to no financial wealth. But generosity isn’t just about what we can do with our possessions. It’s also about what we can do with our time and energy—with our very lives. And no one has been more generous in that way than Jesus. He didn’t give part of himself for us. He didn’t even give mostly of himself for us. He gave all of himself for us. He laid his life down on our behalf. That’s generosity!

Our kids are probably like Jesus and don’t have many possessions or much wealth to give away. That’s okay—they still have the calling and capacity to be like Jesus and give generously of their time and energy, which they do have. Think about the difference they can make if they were to give even a few hours a week to helping and serving others. Think about how they can change lives by giving generously of the gifting God has given them. What skills, talents, and abilities do they have that they can use for others? Can they give a person who is shut-in the gift of their presence for an hour or two? Can they stop with you to pray for a homeless person they pass by often? Giving of our wealth matters. But living like Jesus and giving generously of ourselves can make an even greater difference.

1. What draws you to the generosity of Christ?
2. How might you help your kid(s) imitate Christ’s generosity today?