Dear Friends, Here are five steps we can take to cultivate a generous heart:
1. Recognize how much you have received. You can only give what you have. Ask God for a revelation of the depth of his love for you and how much he has given you. Reflect on the blessings God pours out upon you now, has poured out on you in the past and will continue to pour out on you in the future.
2. Give from the heart. Giving should never be for show, but from a heart of love and compassion. I love Paul’s words in his second letter to the church at Corinth: ‘Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’
3. Move from discontent to a heart of gratitude. It is so easy to feel sorry for ourselves when we face life's challenges. But we can choose to respond to such situations with bitterness or with a heart of gratitude to God's goodness and reach out and touch the lives of people around us in special ways.
4. Look for opportunities to be generous. As you look around, you will find opportunities to use our time and talents to serve others. For example, what about tipping generously to waiting staff or committing to work in local Foodbanks? But be sure to ask God for guidance and wisdom in whatever we do.
5. Commit to Biblical stewardship. If we believe that God owns everything, including our money and time, then we will be less tempted to hold on to what we have, and more likely to be generous. Remind yourself regularly that you do not own anything, it has been lent to you for a time by a generous God!
God bless you, David