A Study in Generosity or Generosity vs Stinginess  Character Council of Indiana, Inc. ~ January 2001 Biblical Character Study ~ Duplication is encouraged

 

GENEROSITY VS. STINGINESS

DEMONSTRATING THE REALITY AND LOVE OF GOD BY BEING A CHANNEL OF HIS INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES.

 

1. Generosity is a primary quality because it expresses the very nature of God and His Love.

      “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have

           everlasting life” (John 3:16).

       “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his

           poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).

2. Generosity is having a “Good Eye” whereas greed is having an “Evil Eye.”

       “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him” (Proverbs 28:22).

       “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make

           themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou

           his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel

           which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words” (Proverbs 23:4–8).

3. Generosity produces a bright countenance which reflects the light of Christ in the heart.

       “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single [Greek: sincere, without self seeking, generous, bountiful], thy whole

           body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:22–23).

       “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

God is light and God is love, thus love & light equate with each other.

Neither restricts or chooses who will benefit from their wealth of qualities.

4. Generosity rejoices the heart of God because it magnifies His nature and purpose in the world.

       “God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7)          (Greek: Hilaros— prompt, joyful, hilarious)

5. Generosity teaches us to fear the Lord and to humble ourselves.

       “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed . . . that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always” (Deuteronomy 14:22–23).

       “The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out” (Proverbs 28:11).

       “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4)

6. Generosity conquers the “root of all evil” and avoids damaging temptations, lusts, and sorrows.

       “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith

          content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in

          destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,

          and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:7–10).

7. Generosity is made possible by God’s provision.

       “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy             God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18).

       “Give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,

           always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:7–8).

8. Generosity is governed by the laws of the harvest.

       “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap alsobountifully” (II Corinthians 9:6).

9. Generosity is like light in that both are available to all who want to benefit from them.

       “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do

           to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love

           them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 

       “And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But

           love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children

           of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:30–35).

10. Generosity to the poor provides treasure in Heaven.

       “Jesus beholding him [the rich young ruler] loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast,

          and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:21).

11. Generosity to the poor is actually making a loan to God that will be returned.

       “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17).

       “If there be among you a poor man . . . thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in

          that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at

          hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin

          unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the

          Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (Deuteronomy 15:7–10).

12. Generosity is not determining by how much we give but by how much we have left.

       “And [Jesus] saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow

           hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath

           cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:2–4).

13. Generosity is to be carried out so God receives the praise and thanksgiving.

       “When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which

           seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:3–4).

       “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service

           not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (II Corinthians 9:11–12).

14. Generosity is God’s remedy for stealing.

       “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to

           him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). 

15. Generosity opens the windows of Heaven and restrains the devourer of our assets.

       “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye

          have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed

          me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now

          herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be

          room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes” (Malachi 3:7–11).

16. Generosity is an exchange of temporal things for eternal riches and relationships.

       “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the

           knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win

           Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the

           righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,

           being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:7–10).

17. Generosity determines the focus of our affections.

       “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

18.Generosity requires personal frugality in order to have resources to give.

       “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. . . . as poor, yet making many

           rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (II Corinthians 6:1,10).

       “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches”  (Proverbs 13:7).

19. Generosity demonstrates the power of God to supply needs in return.

       “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,shall men give into your

           bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38)