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Digging Deeper

Obedient Generosity

By Elizabeth Hightower

My father has always been a generous man, but when I was a child, he set an unforgettable example of generosity that has remained with me ever since. Dad spent a lot of time working outside, and one icy winter afternoon, he bought a brand-new pair of coveralls. Money was tight, but his old coveralls were so worn they didn't keep out the freezing wind. As Dad drove home, he saw a man with no coat walking by the side of the road. Without hesitating, Dad pulled over and gave the homeless man his new coveralls. He quietly used his old ones for the rest of the winter.

Christians sometimes use "stewardship" as an excuse for being tightfisted with God's blessings. We plan our finances so we'll have "enough money" for God's work in the future, but we overlook immediate needs, telling ourselves we can't afford to give. But true stewardship is more than saving, investing and tithing—it is generous giving in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Supporting God's Work

Many pastors would agree that the most difficult part of planning a worship service is coming up with an original way to receive an offering. But it shouldn't be that tricky. Christians should be ready to give to the ministry—without having to be persuaded.

Paul spent a significant portion of his second letter to the Corinthian church encouraging them to give generously to God's work. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.
What important prerequisite to giving does Paul mention in verse 5?

List the character attributes Paul says a generous giver should exhibit.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. What does God promise the generous giver?

Paul says we give not just to meet physical needs, but also to provide spiritual encouragement. What will be the reaction from the recipients of our generosity?

Blind Obedience

Once in a while, the Holy Spirit will ask for generosity that is spontaneous and extravagant. Maybe He is leading you to give someone your second car, buy a week's worth of groceries for a family or a single person, or even volunteer at your church for a few months.

Read Matthew 26:6-13. Imagine how hesitant the woman probably felt to approach Jesus and pour her expensive perfume on Him. She must have been so relieved when Jesus answered the disciples' accusations. Not only were her critics silenced, but she finally understood why the Spirit had asked her to anoint Jesus. The Spirit sometimes leads Christians to make extraordinary sacrifices without explaining why. What lessons can you learn from this woman's obedience and generosity?

The Right Way To Give

Our generosity should be exercised more than just on Sunday mornings. Jesus taught that good deeds done in secret are more precious to God than those done in public. Read Matthew 6:1-4. Think of some ways you can give generously in secret.

Jesus tied the principles of generosity and love tightly together. After teaching that pleasing God and inheriting eternal life require love, Jesus told the story of an unlikely philanthropist as an example of truly loving one's neighbor. Read Luke 10:25-37. Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to give you the opportunity and the desire to show love through generous giving.

ELIZABETH HIGHTOWER is associate editor of WTOnline and lives in Missouri with her husband Eric and 2-year-old daughter Elise.