Would you describe yourself as having a generous heart? What can we do to open our fists and share our blessings with others?
“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)
Have you ever asked someone to borrow something, maybe a shirt or a book or some money to get a snack in the breakroom? And have you ever had that person grimace, hesitate, and then hand over the item with a stiff hand?
How does it feel? I know when it happens to me, I regret asking. I feel less close to that person and maybe a little annoyed. Especially if I have been generous with them in the past.
I wonder if that’s how God feels when He asks us to care for the poor, the hungry, the widows, and the children. Throughout scripture, God asks for our generosity toward others. But we often give it only grudgingly. We do it out of obligation, out of fear for the consequences of disobedience, and out of pride to show how righteous we are.
And then there are the times we don’t give at all. We ignore those verses that call for our generous hearts to be open. We hedge and we rationalize why we can’t tithe ten percent, why we can’t give $5 to the homeless man on the corner, why we can’t offer hospitality to a neighborhood child with a difficult home life.
God asks us to have a generous heart
God asks that we give generously because He has given to us generously. We should be blessing others as He has blessed us. But too often we forget how we got what we have, assuming it was by our own power, and hold tight to it like it will last forever.
Earthly rewards will not last forever. Either they will pass away or we will. So, let’s open that tight fist to others and spread our blessings to those around us.
In turn, God has promised to bless us. Everything that we give away will come back to us. Because God rewards the just, the generous, and those that live out His love on this earth.
Let’s be examples of the generous love God bestows on us by bestowing it on others, too. Open your heart and give generously, and watch how God blesses everything you touch.
Have a blessed Monday!
Looking for more inspiration and encouragement today? Take a look at these posts:
What Do You Need to Give Up to Really Live?
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