Being generous simply makes your life better.

The Benefits

Whether you are giving your time, your money or your expertise, studies show that generosity improves the quality and even the length of life for those who are deliberate about giving.

Other proven benefits include [1],[2]

• Greater satisfaction in all areas of life
• Stronger relationships in which generosity is reciprocated
• Greater job fulfillment
• Better physical and mental health
• A more positive outlook on life and confidence that it is meaningful
• General contentment with life
• Higher self-esteem

The best way to maximize all these benefits of generosity is to make it a lifestyle. Consider how you may be able to give to others using what you have right now. You don’t have to wait to “have more” before you start giving. The truth is, if you are not generous when you have little, it will be even more difficult to be generous when you have a lot.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Practical Ways to be Generous

Are you unable to give financially? There are other options - consider how you can spend some of your time or skills helping someone else. It could look like:

• Making a phone call and lending a listening ear to a friend
• Sending some encouraging words to someone who is putting in effort but not seeing the expected results
• Volunteering time at an organization working in an area in which you are skilled
• Writing a note to a loved one
• Saying a few kind words to the man wiping your windscreen
• Saying “yes” to a co-worker who needs your help
• Becoming a mentor to someone

You have a multitude of opportunities to be generous to others daily. The challenge is to be intentional about it. How will you respond?

To The Christian

As a follower of Jesus Christ, there is an even greater reason for being generous.

In Philemon 1:6 (NLT), Paul writes:

“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”

Generosity is an outworking of our relationship with Jesus. As we grow in understanding of what He has done for us in setting us free, we should do nothing less than show others His grace, love and generosity. We all fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), but Jesus gave His life for us anyway. Is it too much to ask us to extend His love to others through simple and consistent acts of kindness? Certainly not.

Jesus lays out His view on generosity when He speaks about the Judgement in Matthew 25:34,37-40 (NASB1995):

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

…Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ³⁸ And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ³⁹ When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

And, in 1 John 3:17, John writes:

“If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?”

These passages are just two of many that underscore how Christians are called to live in this world. Compassion, love, and generosity intertwine to display God’s love to those around us. No matter how small it may feel to you, God knows your heart and celebrates your decision to be generous to others.

Additionally, this act of love (generosity) must permeate our relationships with fellow believers. Jesus Himself said this in John 13:35,

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Our kindness towards each other ultimately glorifies God and helps to draw others unto Him. Whether it is online or in person, make the choice to be generous with your words, deeds, finances, talents, and time. After all, everything you have is from God – why not honour Him with it?

So, I leave you with this gem from 1 John 3:18:

“…let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).”

[1] Reference: https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/banks/articles/8-biggest-benefits-being-generous/

[2] Reference: https://fullfocus.co/habit-of-generosity/