Generosity Is A Way of Life

May 13, 2019 (Monday)
Baylor University reports an anonymous gift of 100 million dollars. I wonder what it would feel like to be able to give away such a large amount of money. I don’t know if anyone who reads my blogs would be able to contribute 100 million dollars. I would not expect that to be done anonymously.
In all probability there is someone, somewhere, who feels very good about having made such a huge gift. Because giving brings blessing. Paul said, “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:35 NLT).
Someone has said, “You can’t outgive God.” “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped” (Proverbs 11:25 NLT).
Not everyone can give huge gifts, but it’s not the size of the gift that counts with the Lord. It’s what’s in the heart of the giver. Jesus was in the Temple watching people give their offerings. Many gave big gifts, but the gift that prompted Jesus to say something was that small amount that came from a poor widow. “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins of little value). So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had’ ” (Luke 21:-4 NLT).
Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38 NLT). This promise is fulfilled in many ways, not all of them involving material things or money.