I pray that this summer finds you well…full of the Light of Christ and shining brightly!

As we lean into the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT of GENEROSITY this month—some translations using the word GOODNESS—I suggest that you vanquish any thoughts about money and giving that you have previously associated with this word. Let me challenge you to open your perspective on GENEROSITY to embrace a more expansive definition that is, perhaps, more consistent with the Holy Spirit’s presence.

As I stated in the above meme: “This journey following Jesus has taught me that generosity is more about how we generously share God’s grace than it is about dollars and cents.”

Do a little digging around in scripture and you will find such texts as these:

“A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.” Proverbs 11:25

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.” Romans 12:8

“We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part…begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—…they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us…Now as you excel in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel in this generous undertaking.” Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1-2, 4-5, 7

“Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.” Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:13-14

“Every generous act of giving with every perfect gift, is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly find scriptures about sharing your “dollars and cents,” but I think you can see from these other scriptures that generosity is so much more! Maybe you can see why, as a Fruit of the Holy Spirit, it is sometimes translated as “goodness.” Generosity is about:

-God’s generosity or grace toward us

-How our ministry in following Christ is to be characterized by giving ourselves to the Lord and then in sharing love with others as our “generous undertaking”

-Sharing with others in whatever way is necessary because of the grace we have received

-Shining the light from our Father above so that we can fulfill our purpose as “the first fruits of his creatures”

-Being rich in good works which is equated with generosity, being ready to share so that we experience the life of love and grace that God created us for

“Grace begets grace.”

One of my seminary professors once said: “Grace begets grace.” And so I suggest that generosity is defined by how we receive God’s grace, live in God’s grace and extend God’s grace to others…generosity is defined by how we beget grace.

And since GENEROSITY is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit, we can indeed be assured that it comes from above and is meant to be apparent in our lives of faith.

How are you begetting grace these days?

Can you choose not to “take the bait” in a divisive conversation?

Can you show love to someone who is unloveable in the eyes of others?

Can you listen to the one no one else wants to listen to?

Can you seek understanding as a priority over getting to say your piece?

Can you forgive an enemy?

Can you pray for the one who hurt you?

Can you share what you have to help a neighbor?

GENEROSITY….GRACE BEGETS GRACE.

It is something we can actually all afford to do, though it is often more costly than dollars and cents. But following Jesus often works that way…

Let’s be generous this month….let’s get out there and beget some grace! And it would be mighty generous of you to drop me a line at this email address if you have a ‘generosity’ story to share this month.

Shalom shalom (perfect peace),

Julie Parsell