Think about it. God is a radical giver. Although there are moments where He withholds what we want, there is no real debate around this issue. At the core of His being, God is generous. And it’s because He is generous to us first that we learn how to give generously toward others.
Possibly the most well-known verse in all of Scripture shows us God’s heart for giving: “For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16). And not only did He give, but He gave us His very best – His Son. He gives us intimacy when we turn our backs on Him (think: Prodigal Son); He gives us His divine ear (think: answered prayer); He gives us grace, He gives us talents; He gives us love; He gives us rain in its season; He gives us His Spirit for comfort and guidance; He gives us every breath we take; He extends forgiveness that we don’t deserve; He gives every hair on our heads (some of us more than others); He gives us every physical thing we need (Matthew 6:31-33)… do I have to go on? God is generous.
It has been said that “God the Father is the first generous giver; God the Son is the chief of generous givers and God the Holy Spirit is the ongoing expression of God’s generosity in us.”
Paul says it was God’s gift that persuaded him to change the entire course of his life. “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace” (Ephesians 3:7). In the same way, the indwelling of God that overrides our old, sin nature is the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). And when God wants to initiate the evolution of a society, He does it not by sheer force but rather by dispensing love in the form of spiritual gifts. He changes individuals and entire societies through calculated and sometimes astonishing generosity.
God is generous. Ridiculously generous. If He were simply a human, we would call him generous to a fault. Or crazy. There is no getting around the fact that God is persistently generous. Whether we are paying attention or not, He is providing for those in need and preparing new outlets for His generosity…every day.
Giving matters to God. Maybe that’s why it is such a source of pleasure for those who follow His generosity. When something matters to God, it makes a difference in our lives. When it is central to His character, it is central to our joy.
