Generous Love

Who would’ve thought that God, the one through whom the heavens and the earth were created, would come from heaven to earth in the most vulnerable way, as a child, and he would experience life on earth. He understands our weakness, yet because He did not sin, He is the perfect high priest.

If that wasn’t enough,

He put himself into the hands of sinful people, accepted the mocking and the shame, and suffered a painful death on a cross to shed His blood as a covering for us, for the forgiveness of our sins and for our healing.

Who else would suffer and die so we could be free?

And if that wasn’t enough, He rose from the grave to gain victory over the devil. When He arose, we arose with him by faith. His promise of life everlasting is forever assured for us who believe. He has achieved victory for mankind. That’s generous love.

Generosity is one of God’s characteristics.

For God so loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. John 3:16 He gave not because humanity deserved it, but because God is generous.

An Old Testament Example

The prophet Elisha wanted to be the prophet Elijah’s successor so he needed a share of Elijah’s power. So he asked for it. This power was not Elijah’s to give, so he left it up to God.

“That is a difficult request to grant,” Elijah replied. “But you will receive it if you see me as I am being taken away from you; if you don’t see me, you won’t receive it.” 2Kings 2:10

Elisha did see Elijah taken up and got even more than he asked for. Elisha did double the miracles.

God is more generous than we realize.

The apostle Paul asked from the wealth of God’s glory that God would give believers power to be strong and know God’s deep love. He knew God’s power working in us could do more than we could even ask for or imagine. See Ephesians 3:14-20.

A Generous Employer

In the parable of the man who hires workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard (see Matthew 20:1-16) we can see what generous looks like—the ones who worked a short time got as much as those who worked all day. A generous person doesn’t have to give beyond what is deserved, but always gives what is deserved. He may be selective about to whom to be generous. The vineyard owner who hired workers intended to be generous when he found men who needed to work late in the day. When the workers who had worked all day got what they were promised, what they deserved, they complained. The owner replied, “…are you jealous because I am generous?” v.15

Giving beyond what is expected or deserved is generosity.

Being cheap/stingy means giving less than is deserved or expected. If it is a sin to give less than deserved, then it is especially wrong to steal, to take what belongs to someone else. Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “…the measure that you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” 

God gives generously to all

When James talked about asking God for wisdom, to assure his readers that they could ask for wisdom, he told us about God’s character, “God gives generously and graciously to all.” See James 1:5

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus  proves His love for you.When you receive Jesus into your life, you receive His generous love. His whole life, his death and resurrection show God’s generous love.

Scripture quotations are taken from the GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION, SECOND EDITION, Copyright©1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.