February 21, 2016

How would you define generosity? Would you define it only in monetary terms? Or would you include others areas of giving, like time, talents, and gifts? To have a generous heart is to be willing to give – in many areas of your life, in many different expressions of your life – and not just in monetary terms.

If you did not know already, I preach at a lot of funerals. One of the consistent themes I hear from families is that the deceased was “generous”. What I have determined they mean is, well, they mean a lot of different things. Some meant that the person would help out anyone in the family who needed something – including giving them money or being there to help them if they were moving. Other times generous meant they would help out the poor, give money to the homeless who asked, donated money to the church and other charities. Other times they meant that someone was generous with their time – if someone needed someone to talk to they were there, or they went to visit shut-ins or other family who might be in a nursing home.

You see, when people talk about generosity, they see the definition of the word in a wide range of meanings. And that is the beauty of someone who has the gift of generosity. Showing generosity can manifest itself in so many ways. But for the person who has the gift of generosity, they have a heart to always be generous. And this is why it is a gift. We all have moments when we are generous, but we pick and choose our places and times. Having a heart of generosity, having the gift of generosity means living to be generous. I believe this is one of the gifts we can live into – that everyone can develop a heart of generosity.

Pastor Dave