You like to be around generous people, don’t you? I mean that friend that gives you a ride, the family member who lends you some money in a tight spot, that boss who gives you a raise because of all your hard work. You and I like to be around generous people but it’s not because they give resources. It’s because of the feeling they give off as people who want to bless others. It’s as if their desire is to take that which they have been blessed with and pass it on to others who are in need.
Jesus reminds us of many great things in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) but he gets specific in Matthew 6:19-24 about being generous. He says that we can’t serve two masters. We’ll hate the one and love the other. It’s just not possible to equally love what God offers and what the world offers.
Jesus also reminds us of our desire. He says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Your heart follows your treasure. So, if you look around at your friends or family, you will see what’s most important to them. Does most of their resources go into the home they live in or the car they drive or their kids traveling sports team? If you have enough gumption you could look at yourself and ask the same questions.
You see, God wants all your heart. The things of this earth are not bad. It’s not a bad thing to have a house, or a car, or get involved in a hobby. What ends up hurting God is when these things take the place of God.
We are called as followers of Jesus to be like him. We are called as disciples of Christ to make God the priority in our lives. He gave us the ultimate example of what priority giving looks like. John 3:16 says, “God loved you and me enough that He GAVE his only Son so you and I could be saved and then live with him forever.” Wow! That’s generosity. That’s what giving looks like. That’s showing a world what whole-heart commitment really looks like.
So, make a point this week, this month, this lifetime to be generous. As you have been blessed, bless those around you. Don’t let blessing stop with you. Let it flow out to the world around you and see the change begin.