I know someone who is exceedingly generous. Do you have someone like that in your life? A person or people who will stop whatever they are doing to be with you, to support you physically, mentally, financially? They go above and beyond and never count the cost? What I have learned through my friend is that generosity has little to do with money and everything to do with heart.

This person has been through difficult times and great times; times when they were scraping money together to pay their bills and times when money was flowing. But here is the thing, you’d never know if money was tight or not because they show generosity consistently. Honestly, it is both humbling and inspiring.

So what’s their secret?

As I have watched them, I see them live out what I read in Scripture , like in The Parable of the Good Samaritan. They don’t just do the bare minimum or what is required, they give more than required.The bible talks a lot about generosity:

The Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
Generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. (Isaiah 32:8)
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11.24-25)
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverb 28:27)

Of course God was the first and most generous Giver of all.

God has given generous acceptance, love and forgiveness. Every moment we are alive is a gift from our generous Creator.

God went above and beyond anything we could have imagined: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

God loved people so much that God gave. God gave God’s best. God gave their Son for you and for me. This act of generosity began in the heart of God first.

God loved so God gave.

And it begins in our heart first as well. Generosity has little to do with money and everything to do with our faith in God. As our hearts open to God, so does our desire to give to others because we have faith that the Ultimate Giver will provide for all our needs.

Perhaps this is the secret to inspiring generosity!

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill