The Heart of Generosity | Day 32 Freedom Season Devotional

 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. (NLT)

Grateful people give generously. The 2000 movie Pay It Forward starring Haley Joel Osment launched a movement that started people looking for ways to bless others. The concept of giving out of our abundance is actually an ancient one, though. It is, in fact, rooted in the Word of God. 

2 Corinthians 9:11 encourages us to be generous with what we have been given. The concept of the first fruits offering leans heavily into this. When the first fruits offering was first commanded, Israel was to bring to the Lord the first fruits of their harvest. In their agricultural society, this meant bringing the literal best of their actual harvest. This was not a tithe. There was not an assigned percentage or amount to bring. Just the best of the first. 

Fast forward to today, and many believers are returning to our Hebrew roots and celebrating the feasts and festivals that God instructed His people to observe from generation to generation. The first fruits offering is one that is given at the beginning of the Biblical month and it represents our bringing our first and best to Him out of gratitude for His blessing. Since we no longer live in an agricultural society, our first fruits offering might look more like finances, time, skills or other resources given from a position of generosity birthed from gratitude. 

When we recognize how much we’ve been given, we desire to bless others in return - to pay it forward, so to speak. When my husband and I are able to bless someone, our only request of them is to pay it forward and be a blessing to someone else when they have the opportunity. Giving in an extravagant financial way is not always possible. Nor is it always necessary. We can give of our time, energy, skills and resources as well. Here are some ideas:

• Make a meal for someone who is ill or recovering from surgery

• Mow a neighbor’s or friend’s lawn if it needs it

• Write an encouraging note to someone who is hurting or grieving

• Pay for the order of the person behind you at the drive-through

• Offer to babysit for a young couple (friends or family) so the parents can have a date night

There are lots of ways to show generosity that comes from gratitude. 

Reflection: Who can you bless today with your time, attention, or resources? Besides finances, what skills or talents can you offer to bless someone?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, show me how to be generous with what You have blessed me with. You have given me so much. Thank You. Help me find creative ways to give to Your kingdom by blessing others. I will do this with a joyful heart. Amen.