In Christ, you have a grasp of the far-reaching implications of generosity. You know that you are never more like your Lord than when you give. “For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). For you, faith, generosity and love are inseparable. Your faith is fully alive and fully energized by Spirit-led biblical generosity.

While others think they own what they have, they can actually be owned by what they have. You are aware of the truth that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. You own nothing. God owns everything. You steward all that has been placed under your care. You are a wise manager entrusted with divine resources to be used to meet your needs and wants, and the needs and wants in the kingdom of God. You have been allowed the privilege of participating in the building of the kingdom. Your faithfulness in few things has increasingly afforded you opportunities to be faithful in many greater things.

 

You are generous.

Sowing sparingly is not something you practice. You reap a harvest in keeping with the seed you sow. You sow obedient generosity and reap great contentment, great liberty and great reward. To you, acts of generosity are acts of worship. You worship with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart to God. You also worship through giving out of God’s abundance. Your generosity is biblical. The tithe, the offering and the alms for the poor are comfortable, practical and discussable truths for you. Never have you outgiven God. He continually resupplies you. You have testimonies of personal needs being met, and you have a plethora of testimonies of God meeting the needs of others through you.

 

You have a magnanimous heart.

Your generosity is not fueled by compulsion or legalism. Your sharing is compelled by the love of Christ. Your religion is pure and undefiled. You worship the Father to the fatherless and the Defender of widows through your giving. The day will come when you will see the lasting fruit of your generosity.  

 

You leave no debt outstanding.

You have overcome the shackles of exorbitant debt. You walked out of the debtor’s prison, never to return. You avoid excessive obligations and the deceptive momentary allure of irresponsible decision making. Your witness is that of a wise builder who counts the cost first rather than paying additional costs for years to come.

 

You are a wise steward of time.

Being busy can be a long way from being productive. You seem to have more time than others. You have time to listen, to rest, to play and to work. Over time, you have learned to steward time. Busyness does not control you. You understand the power of the word “no,” and your established boundaries greatly protect you rather than grossly limit you.

 

You are a wise steward of your giftedness.

You do not seek to make your weaknesses strengths. You make your strengths even stronger. Team play affords you the opportunity for mutual edification. Other people’s strengths compensate for your weaknesses. You lead with your assets while minimizing your liabilities.

 

You are a cheerful giver.

Your cheerfulness and your bountifulness are in concert with one another. You enjoy the joy of anonymous generosity. Your Christ-like benevolence is not a fleshly plea for attention or favoritism. Your generosity is “string-less.” You give before an audience of One. In heaven, you are seen as a walking, talking example of a cheerful, bountiful steward of cattle on a thousand hills. 

 

Dr. Gary Hewins is the President of lifepoints.org, a coaching and consulting ministry to ministry leaders and preachers and the Senior Pastor of Community Bible Church in the picturesque mountains of Highlands, N.C.