God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us. 2 Corinthians 9:11 GW
This promise from Scripture sounds like it can’t possibly be true. But there’s a secret to it. Did you know that life always … yes, always … is determined most significantly by the filters or the lenses you have for your view on life. After your decision to follow Jesus, the next most important decision is that you will always believe that God is good. That simple decision removes so much struggle from your life and decision-making. You know that because He is always good, everything that happens is filtered through that perspective. You can trust His direction and His promises.
So, believing that God is always good, let’s take a look at that promise. “God will make you rich enough.” That’s a profound thought right there. In our world, it’s easy to get caught up in the “more, more, always more” race, and feel quite discouraged and frustrated when we don’t have enough. But God knows what is enough for us to fulfill His will for our lives, His “good and perfect will” (Romans 12:1). He says He will meet all of our needs (Matthew 6:33).
He has a purpose that is beyond simply giving us enough to survive. He will make you rich enough so that you “can always be generous.” Riches include money, of course, but they also include relationships, resources such as food and homes and the basic needs of life, wisdom and encouragement, emotional support, prayers. God makes us rich enough in His resources to always be generous. Generosity doesn’t depend on what you have. It depends on who you are. A generous person sees God as the ultimate Source and knows that God will always provide. He holds a loose grip on everything that is “His.” She is ready to share generously anything she has with one who needs it, financially or otherwise.
What’s the result of this? First is the incredible emotional fulfillment of knowing you are living like a child of the King. You are acting in His spirit and love. Then there is the impact on others. You see God multiplying what you have given like He multiplied the loaves and fish. Many people are served and blessed. True generosity is so rare and so needed that whenever it is observed it’s news. It becomes good gossip. Even on the public scene, acts of generosity from unexpected places often make the secular news. Most importantly, your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God. In the midst of another’s need, when we show up with generosity, we direct attention to the One who loves and cares for all. It is not unusual for the kindness and generosity of a Jesus follower to become the starting place for life transformation in the life of another.
- Generosity is our privilege. “Generosity is not something God wants FROM us. It’s something God wants FOR us.” – Andy Stanley