Session 8
Generosity always wins the day
From Win at Home: A 14-Day Devotional
If you’ve ever traveled to a third-world country, you’ve seen the paradox that less is more.
Americans will look around and say, “They have nothing.” Yet the people there exude peace and joy. They don’t hesitate to give what they have to each other and to us, a bunch of outsiders. They have the contentment so many of us lack.
How is this possible? When we give freely, we free ourselves from the control of money or things, and we grow richer in the things of God.
In contrast, when we hold on to what we have, our hands are closed so tightly we can’t receive anything else. We grow spiritually poorer as we look to money and stuff to fill us in ways only God can.
Proverbs 11:24-25 describes this reality perfectly. “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.”
Freely giving what we have to someone who can’t repay us and didn’t earn our favor — this is an everyday picture of the Gospel. God has been generous to us, giving us a life we didn’t earn and could never repay. He gave His one and only Son to save us (John 3:16-17).
So what better way to show His love to others than to follow His example by being generous to others? Caring for others is countercultural in our "me first" world. That’s why it gets people’s attention when we do it.
Listen to the Holy Spirit and trust God’s promises that He will take care of you. Nothing we give away in obedience to Jesus will be wasted.
Jesus promises this in Matthew 19:29-30, saying, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Reflect:
- Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-14. Would you consider yourself a cheerful giver? Why or why not?
- Has there been a time when someone was so generous to you that it inspired you to do the same for others?
- What’s one way you can be generous today with what God has given you? How could the Gospel spread as you give your time, talent, and treasure?