I don’t know about you but when I hear verses like this;
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
I like to think it’s an “adult” bible verse. “That’s great for when I’m an adult” I catch myself thinking, because surely God knows I can’t be generous at the minute because I don’t have loads of money? But when I’m an adult and have a job then I’ll be generous.
In the bible there’s a story about a group of rich religious people giving a lot of money away. At the same time a widow with little money puts in all she has to the offering. Jesus says “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” – Mark 12:44
The widow couldn’t give anywhere near as much as the religious people but yet Jesus highlights her to us because her heart behind her giving was that she would give all that she could. The widow had grasped that we’re not asked to give because it’s a good thing to do, because if that was the case she would have just put in less. I think the widow had got that giving was at the centre of loving.
We see this with God too, ‘God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his only son’.
When God asks us to be generous it’s not about how much we give and it’s not necessarily even about money. Being generous means ‘giving more of something than is necessary or expected’ and that could be anything. It could be money, time, helping others out, or gifts.
It’s less about what or how much you’re giving but more the heart behind it that a God is interested in. Mother Theresa said ‘If you can’t feed 100 people then just feed one’ I love this because it makes me remember how important the person in front of me, my group of friends, or the stranger in the street is.
Perhaps whilst we’re younger we won’t have resources to feed 100 people but we definitely do for 1 and that’s significant.
I like to remind myself that there will be people in my day that will see Jesus through me loving them by being generous. Don’t underestimate the opportunity you have to be generous whilst you’re young. Your willingness to give is such a testimony of what God has done for you, who knows what may come of your generosity?
