Everything on earth belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). Early Christians embodied this perspective by sacrificially sharing all they had, even selling their possessions to give to those in need (Acts 2:44–45).
But knowing this does not make practicing generosity (or even talking about money) any easier. The Old Testament is full of wisdom about being generous, and there are numerous biblical stories of individuals who demonstrate what generosity looks like. But actually following Scripture’s model takes discipline. We must be intentional if we want to live with open hands.
Thankfully, there are things we can do every day to help cultivate generosity in our lives.
1. Pray for local charities.
Prayer is powerful. Praying for charities and ministries in our community reorients us to think of others and intercede on their behalf. It is valuable on its own, but building an externally focused prayer life also helps foster a sacrificial spirit.
Right now there are organizations that already serve the needs of people in your community. Pray for the work they are doing. You could focus on a different charity each day or each week. Pray for the volunteers and employees who sacrifice their time and energy for others. Pray for the people they are serving. Ask God to show you opportunities to help.
Learning about your local charities and what they are doing will expose you to unmet needs in your community and spark ideas about how you can help in more material ways.
2. Carry cash that you intend to give away.
Not having cash is one of the easiest ways to avoid being generous. If being generous is important to you, why not plan for it? Decide how much money you could give away each month, and look for opportunities to do so. Pray for those opportunities too.
You might be inclined to reserve that cash for only the most worthy occasions—those who are really in need. But choose to simply say yes to the people, ministries, and opportunities in front of you, trusting that the Lord will put you in the right place at the right time.
3. Remind yourself that you are spending God’s money.
Every time you pull out your wallet or purse to make a purchase, what if you took a moment to remember that you are spending God’s money? This is not to make you feel guilty about your latte but to change the way you think about what God gives you (and allows you to keep).
When you have worked hard for every paycheck, it is easy to forget that God is really your provider. When we remind ourselves that it all belongs to Him, it challenges us to think about how we are using our money and how we can share what He has given us with others.
4. Assume there is no one else to help.
It is easy to say no when a stranger—or even an acquaintance—asks for help. Maybe we really are busy. Or we assume there is someone else more qualified or someone they have a better relationship with.
But when you know you are someone’s best or last possible option, it gets a lot harder to say no. So what if you started by assuming you are the only option? You would probably say yes more often. It might mean changing your plans sometimes. But this becomes easier when you remind yourself that your plan each day is to reflect God’s generous heart to the people around you.
5. Seek opportunities to loan out your possessions.
When you take good care of your things, it is easy to become overly protective of them. In fact, you can be tempted to feel like hoarding is a sign of good stewardship. But when you think about all of the tools, equipment, clothing, vehicles, and other possessions God has given you, they present nearly endless opportunities for you to be generous.
You can start with things like offering your truck to help someone with a heavy load, letting a neighbor borrow your lawn mower or gardening tools, or lending out a board game or a book. Take inventory of things you are willing to loan out or use for other people, and look for ways to offer what you have.
Generosity’s effects reach well beyond a single act of compassion. Sharing your possessions can lead to meaningful relationships and create a true sense of community.
Start with your heart.
Outward expressions of generosity come from our spiritual posture. Paul tells us that while our generosity is important, God cares most about our attitude as we give:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NIV).
Which of the above habits could you start practicing this week? How can you put yourself in a position to grow in generosity this year? God is gracious and will use our efforts—however faltering—to help us grow in generosity. It all starts with our hearts.
