1. Gratitude generates generosity.
Grateful people realize what they have received and desire to give back. When we are busy thinking about what we don’t have, we aren’t grateful for what we do have. When we aren’t grateful for what we do have, we tend not to be generous. Grateful people are generous people.
2. Generosity requires a plan.
We are called to be managers of what God has given us. To manage our money we have to know where our money is going. Create a budget and include a line for generosity. In other words:
Pre-decide that you will be generous:
Decide ahead of time that you are going to be generous. Don’t just be a spontaneous giver, be a strategic giver. Decide that when opportunities come, you will leverage your talent, treasure, and time.
Track your current spending and budget your future giving.
3. Generosity reaps generously.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
4. Generosity thinks in terms of percentages more than sums.
Generosity is really about the percent rather than the amount. Wealthy people can give big sums, but it was the widow’s mite which received the praise of Jesus. It was the percentage of what she gave that God took notice of, not the total sum of what she gave.
5. Generosity is a better way to live life.
Greed hoards. Generosity gives. No matter how much generous people give, they will always have more to show
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17–19
