Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. Matthew 5:48b (The Message)
“There is more to generosity than money. As a virtue and a practice, generosity has to do with the way we use our skills and the manner in which share ideas, practice hospitality, offer encouragement, make connections, and use our time to address the needs of others. Generosity is reflected in the quality of our relationships and the way we engage with people via acts of caring and compassion. As a lifestyle, generosity is measured by our giving and volunteering as well as the manner in which we nurture relationships and live out our neighborliness.”
William Enright in “A Theological Foundation for Generous Giving” in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation, vol. 19 (Richmond: ESC, 2017) 4.
When Enright described holistic generosity lived out as “neighborliness”, it seemed like the perfect way to describe Christian generosity as a lifestyle. In everything we do, because of all we have in Christ, we get to extend love to our neighbor. This occurs in our speaking as well as our serving. It’s our God-created identity!
Today in my class we will walk through church history highlighting quotes from saints through the centuries, and then I have invited a panel of givers to attend. Each will share excerpts of their journey of generosity and what they are learning. The aim of this is to inspire students to chart a similar course in their own lives.
When we learn about the neighborliness, hospitality, caring, compassion, giving, and volunteering of fellow Christians, it stirs a desire within each of us to live likewise. I pray today for my students, and everyone reading this, that God will stir you to live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.