And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:5
“People are often most generous to the people they are closest to, such as their family members and friends, and are willing to sacrifice more for these people’s well-being than for lesser known individuals or strangers… It may also make us happier: Results from one study found that spending money on our closer social ties leads to more happiness than spending on weaker ties. However, not everyone looks at social distance the same way. People who were the most generous in a public goods game did not reveal as large a bias for those closest to them; neither did those who have donated a kidney to a stranger, so-called “extraordinary altruists.”
Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.
We expect people to be generous to family. And it makes sense that it makes us happier. But ost interesting today for me is the fact that “the most generous” were not biased toward family and friends.
They exhibit generosity to everyone.
The Macedonians give us a clue how to achieve such “extraordinary” generosity, which research shows expresses a willingness even to share a kidney. We give ourselves to the Lord first.
Father, we give ourselves to you afresh today. Help us exhibit extraordinary generosity to everyone. Amen!