May 8, Giving Philosophy

Today’s reading: Psalms 36-40

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously . . . . They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing” - Psalm 37:21, 26.

I heard someone say one time that God doesn’t evaluate the gift you give by how much it is, but by how much you have left after you give. Generosity is not about giving large gifts, but rather giving abundantly according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Paul explained his philosophy of generosity when he was preparing to receive the offering for the Judean poor from the Corinthian church:

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).

Are you giving generously according to what you have? Would you say you are a generous person? Would others say you are? What do you have to give besides money?