Generosity is hard to say the least. No matter how selfless and generous you are, giving is not easy. But when we realise just how much God has blessed us through Jesus Christ, we will find it easier than usual.
Jesus in His days of ministry put a lot of emphasis on the grace of giving because truth is that our perspective on money and giving has a considerable grave impact on our perspective on the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. That's why Jesus says in Luke 16:13, "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
A struggle in generosity will almost always equate to a struggle in placing Jesus as Lord in every area of our life, especially in our finances. Jesus wants to be Lord over all areas of our lives, not because He's a control-freak who wants all of your money, but because He is a loving God who wants all of your heart so that He may bless and satisfy it.
Generosity affirms that we trust God
The only time that God calls us to test Him is in the area of returning our tithe to the Lord. He says in Malachi 3:10, "...And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Why does God do this? Because He knows that a parting of our money is the ultimate test of trust. We only exchange money for brands, products and people that we trust, but God asks us to trust Him even more than anything in this world.
Generosity shows we acknowledge God as the source
In 1 Chronicles 29:14, king David declares in prayer after taking an offering for God's temple to be built, "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you."
When we respond to people and to God in generosity, we are saying that God is the source of our provision and when He is the source, He will never let us run dry.
Generosity declares we are blessed to be a blessing
Times will get tough and we will sometimes have problems with money, but God will always be faithful to provide. Psalm 23:5 says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
When we respond in generosity even in the midst of hardship, we express that God has and will continue to bless us to be a blessing to other people.
