“Inasmuch as [God’s] goodness is incomprehensible, is [reason] hidden in the inaccessible light in which You dwell (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16)? Truly, in the deepest and inmost seat of Your goodness is hidden a fount from which the stream of Your mercy flows. For although You are completely and supremely just, nevertheless because You are completely and supremely good You are also beneficent to those who are evil.
For You would be less good if You were beneficent to none of those who are evil. For someone who is good both to those who are good and to those who are evil is better than someone who is good only to those who are good. And someone who is good by virtue of both punishing and sparing those who are evil is better than someone who is good by virtue merely of punishing [them]. Therefore, You are merciful because You are completely and supremely good.”
Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), a.k.a. Anselm of Aosta (his birthplace) or Anselm of Bec (his Benedictine Monastery). He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093-1109. This excerpt comes from Proslogion, chapter nine (translated by Jasper Hopkins and Herbert Richardson).
Ever wonder why good things happen to people labeled as evil? Anselm did. In the later parts of the dark ages, theologians (Anselm included) wrestled with intersection of reason and reality. Here he comes to the realization that the “incomprehensible depths” of God’s goodness are perhaps best discerned by the fact that He is supremely good to both the good and the evil. In other words, because He so supremely good, that goodness exhibits perfect justice and mercy toward all.
What’s this have to do with generosity? Everything! God is good to everyone. He is kind and beneficent to those we might say are deserving and those commonly perceived as undeserving (that is, the good and the evil) to show that His perfect kindness comes not by merit but by mercy! This explains why He calls us to extend the same grace, mercy, kindness, and generosity to our brothers as we do to our enemies. Only when we do this, does our generosity become “Christian” generosity.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36