Be generous

God instructed the Israelites, “If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him” (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and effort on what they can give to others, not what they can get from them. And the more you give, the better your attitude becomes. Many people don’t understand this concept. They think the amount you possess determines the amount you should share. It’s not what you have that matters; it’s what you do with what you have. And that’s determined by your attitude. A famous saying puts it this way: we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. And serving others is something you can start doing today. Whether it means spending more time with your family, mentoring an employee who shows potential, helping people in your church or community—it’s about putting your own desires on hold to bless someone else. The Bible says, “Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” (Proverbs 31:9 MSG). The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make a habit of giving of your time, attentiveness, money, and resources. Author Richard Foster said, “Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon [of] greed.” Think about what you’re already giving, what you’ve been asked to give, and what you would like to give. Your reasons for granting or denying a request for financial help may be valid, but are they godly? Think about how it feels when you give, and let that be your guide.