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Bud’s Corner

Generosity, the key to happiness

The dictionary gives us the definition of a generous person. A generous person does not confine his noble mindfulness to the material world, but shows himself tolerant in spirit, lacking in prejudice and free from meanness.

A generous person is one who has a good value system for life and is not a slave to materialism. They usually are happy people who receive their true joy from helping others. They have learned a great truth: There is no such thing as luck; no, it’s cause and effect. Certain things cause certain things to happen.

Over the years I have learned much from observing generous people. First, generosity is an attitude. It’s how you think. As a Christian, is God’s Word true? Do I belong to God? Does God own everything? Am I God’s steward or not? My attitude about these questions is the key to generous living and giving.

Second, generosity is an action. The Bible teaches us that we reap what we sow; we reap after we sow and reap more than we sow; cause and effect.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” II Cor. 9:6

As believers we believe God’s Word, so we step out to find out. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.”  II Cor. 9:8

Third, your generosity is an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving to God as well as your submission and faithfulness to God’s plan for our lives as Christians. Again, this expression of generosity is supported by the teaching in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Finally, generosity is a testimony of the proof of God in our lives. It’s a testimony of the truth of God’s Word. It is a testimony that brings praise to God, not man.

II Cor. 9:13 “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

Generosity is one of those teachings that is more caught than taught. Generous people are happy, contagious people. They are great encouragers and example-setters. Truly generous people never look for praise but for opportunities to do good work. They are people who have been blessed and want to be a blessing to others.

Prov. 11:24: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.”

Prov.11:25: “A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

God has a plan for every believer.  His plan is for His believers to be obedient and generous so that He can bless us. We are called to be good stewards of everything He gives us. Our homes, our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, and of course, our money. A good steward always will be generous. A good steward has a willing heart, and his life will be an expression of it.

— Yoder is an evangelist at the Christian Church at Cogan Station

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