Attitude in Generosity!

What is one good reason for us to have a generous spirit? Perhaps the foremost reason should be because we have a generous Heavenly Father. Do we give that much consideration when we open our hearts and hands to give of what we have?

Though David was not to be the one to build the Temple for the Lord, he made much preparation for all that would be used by his son Solomon in the building. David gave generously of his own possessions and encouraged the same from others. And the giving was done WILLINGLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY ( 1 Chronicles 29:9) as well as JOYOUSLY. ( 1 Chronicles 29:17) Those are proper attitudes to be associated with our giving. (note also 2 Corinthians 9:7) There is, however, another attitude which sometimes raises its head when giving takes place, and that is one of boasting. Though David personally gave much himself ( 1 Chronicles 29:3-5), as did others ( 1 Chronicles 29:6-8), did David draw attention to the giving as if to brag?

Note David’s attitude expressed in his own words in a prayer to God.
“(14) 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. (15) For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. (16) O LORD our God, ALL THIS ABUNDANCE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED for building you a house for your holy name COMES FROM YOUR HAND AND IS ALL YOUR OWN.” ( 1 Chronicles 29:14-16 ESV)

The giving had been very generous. The quantity did not appear small.
However, where was the boasting in David’s words? There was none. “Who am I, and what is my people?” he asked. This was a very HUMBLE acknowledgment of God’s greatness in comparison with an admission of man’s smallness of what he was or could offer. They were words void of any bragging of generosity.
What was given was from what God had so richly provided by His own hand.

As we focus on God’s great generosity toward us -- honestly acknowledging that all we have to give is from Him anyway -- our giving should be WILLINGLY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, JOYOUSLY, and HUMBLY. There should also be an attitude of THANKFULNESS that God has blessed us so that we have something we can give.

David prayed for this proper spirit in giving to continue. (1 Chronicles
29:18) May that also be true with us as we continue to remember we are merely stewards of the blessings entrusted to us by God. Let Him be glorified by our WILLING, WHOLEHEARTED, JOYOUS, HUMBLE, and GRATEFUL attitude, as well as in the use of what we give.

Have a great day UNDERSTANDING TRUE HUMILITY IN GIVING!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Giving