Dr John Andrews reminds us that as Christ-followers we are birthed out of God’s grace and generosity. The core of the biblical story highlights God’s ultimate act of generosity – giving His only Son to become human, who died for us so that we could be saved. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “Christ became poor so that through His poverty, we might be made rich”.
To appreciate and celebrate generosity, we must first understand what God has done for us. We have freely received, and as recipients of His immense generosity, our natural response should be to reflect that generosity towards others. In Acts 20:35 we are reminded that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The key here is that the blessing lies in the act of giving itself, without expecting anything in return – giving with no strings attached.
The story of the boy with five barley loaves and two small fish in John 6:1-15, was used to illustrate how generosity not only impacts others but also enlarges and enriches the giver’s own life.