What is your generosity saying about your heart?

2 Corinthians 9:8–9 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

One area God’s gospel grace works on in the heart and life of a follower of Jesus is selfishness. The transformation of a selfish heart will express itself in many ways. One of those ways will be that of growing compassion, put on display through generosity.

Some downplay the significance of the transformation from selfishness to generousness, noting that many people who do not claim to be Christian, are caring and giving toward those in need. Their philanthropy is undeniable. However, consider the following clarification. Many people reflect the generosity of their Creator, even though they may deny His existence. Consequently, displays of kindness and generosity are done not for the glory of God, but for the glory of man. Sometimes glory is given to the giver, and sometimes glory is given to the receiver, and from their perspective, there is no reason to acknowledge God.

From the teaching of Scripture, we learn that those who follow Jesus are receiving additional measures of God’s grace, transforming their self-centered thoughts and desires to be more Christ-centered and others-oriented. A particular way others-oriented change is increasingly manifest is in the arena of compassion, which stirs the hearts of the people of God’s to be helpful and charitable. As the Apostle Paul shares in the passage above, God’s grace provides the means and the motivation to care for and contribute to others. Such liberality is just one way God puts His gospel grace on display through the lives of His children.

When someone claims to be a follower of Jesus and lives within the confines of their self-centered world, with little concern and contribution to help others, a significant problem may still exist. Gospel grace has not produced salvation from sin and selfishness because the love of God is not in them and flowing from them. As the Apostle John says, “17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17–18)

What is your generosity saying about your heart?