Generosity

Over the past few months, there has been a lot of media attention paid to the antics of wealthy parents across the country who have allegedly cheated financially in various ways to get their children admitted to competitive colleges.  Everything from changing answers on standardized tests to faking athletic accomplishments has been uncovered, to the ultimate detriment not only of the children involved, but also to the children who were thus cheated out of their rightful places in those universities.  It is disgraceful, dishonest and shameful, and no matter how much money changed hands, certainly not a generous act for any of the kids involved.

But this is not new, and I doubt anyone is much surprised.  The wealthy have been buying power and influence for as long as humans have had something with which to bargain, and their wealth usually gives them a winning advantage, at least in the short term.  Giving what is euphemistically referred to as a "generous donation"  is really nothing more than a payment to get something of value in exchange, whether its a college admission or a tax deduction or perhaps notoriety or fame.  Even when the dollar amount given may be very high, it is, in effect, a business transaction rather than a spiritual action, and hardly qualifies as a gift, freely given.

While the world oohs and ahs over the munificence of the wealthy, Jesus measured generosity by a different criteria.  In Luke 21:1-4 we read about the spiritual fruit of generosity:

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.  He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Generosity in the spiritual sense is freely giving everything you have for the glory of God.  It is an intentional, sacrificial action.  There is no holding back.  There is no quid pro quo.  There is no payoff or tangible gain.  Generosity is not a business deal with God, no matter how much you have.  Jesus exemplified the ultimate act of generosity, unrepayable, when he sacrificed himself on the cross.  By giving ourselves up to his will, we are living in the spirit of generosity as God would have us live.