A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

My friend Lydia is one of the most generous people I know. Invariably when we get together, she brings a small gift – and it is always perfect. She remembers birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and personal events which are important to our friendship. She blesses me as well as others who are in her life, even peripherally. In Lydia, I see one “who refreshes others” through her special gift of generosity. She inspires me to be more generous to others.

Generosity is sorely needed in our world. Generosity has gone the way of humility and concern for others. Increasingly, those who scream “Me, Me, Me” the loudest are the proverbial squeaky wheels, upheld, lauded and even admired in the marketplace. Selfishness worships at the stingy feet of the idols of getting , grabbing, going after. Simply put, the unadulterated covetousness is greed run rampant. It’s opposition to true generosity and it is sin which violates the 10th Commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.

It is against God’s law and contradicts the Way of Jesus. In His earthly life, the Lord’s generosity was boundless. He gave completely of Himself to His disciples and to the multitudes, whenever and wherever there was need. I think of the multiplication of bread and fish to feed thousands of hungry people who followed Him. I think of His generosity to heal, forgive, accept, admonish, encourage, teach, comfort and love the lost and the hurting. I think of God’s Son on the cross dying horribly for our sins and still giving his mother Mary into the care of John. Jesus’ pure generosity poured out because of the Father’s great unconditional love toward us.

There are days when I am readily generous for I like to give, believing it is more blessed to give than to receive. I can write a check or buy a little something for my friends. It’s heart warming to give something wrapped in pretty paper and tied with colorful ribbons. It’s much harder to give something intangible wrapped up in the love of God. Sometimes it is downright painful to love someone stepping on my precious perceived rights and privileges. But isn’t this exactly what Jesus asks of us? Follow Him . Keep His commandments. Be generous as He was generous because the Father is generous and has given likewise of His Spirit.

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Jesus’ words remind me that generosity is the outcome of gratitude. God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus. What more perfect example of generosity can there be? Who is more generous than Jesus who gave His life freely, to die for us freely. His generosity costs us nothing and gains everything. There is no price for us to repay. We simply cannot do so, for the generosity of our God is eternal and without limit. However, something is required. Jesus told His disciples to freely give because they had received everything. We who follow Him in this age are to do likewise. Be generous to heal, accept, forgive, pray, intercede, encourage, comfort and most of all love. Generosity of the Spirit is available within our hearts if Christ abides. It is more than enough to overcome selfishness, greed and stinginess. The promise is that we then shall prosper and be refreshed through ever increasing, generous love of God toward one another.