How Generous Are You?
I remembering seeing an episode of the Celebrity Apprentice where Sharon Ousborne was thrilled she was able to secure a 15 thousand dollar gift from a wealthy donor. She was ‘shocked’ because according to her, she had never seen anyone give that much money away before. Well, I was shocked but for a different reason. First, her reaction told me a lot about Mrs. Ousborne generosity quotient or lack thereof and then it reminded me how many truly giving people I have met over the years. People who have given a lot more with a lot less money. So during this giving season, what does it mean to be generous?
Here’s a few thoughts about generosity:
It’s not an amount. a 15 thousand dollar gift might not be as generous as a 15 dollar one. Remember the story of the widow’s mite?
It’s not about money. Sometimes your most generous gift is one of time and friendship. I’m at a stage in life that I really don’t need more stuff. But I can always use the company and counsel of a good friend.
It’s a choice. Much like any human virtue, a generous heart is cultivated and not born. Left to human nature, we all would be greedy and selfish.
It’s a responsibility. I believe that the Bible means business when it says that to whom much is given, much is required. I was reminded of that passage of Scripture by a friend who has given much of what he had away and has such a gracious heart.
It’s a blessing. I have never, ever regretted being generous. Every time I give, I always receive more than the value of the gift back, and not from a “giving so I can receive, name-it-and-claim-it theology,” perspective. I’m blessed in ways I could never orchestrate or predict.
Did I miss anything? What else would you add?
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