Fruit of the Spirit; Generosity – Part 7

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

One of the Fruit of the Spirit is generosity. For most of us when we think of generosity, we think of money. But that is just one element of generosity (and a minor one at that.) Generosity started with God and continues through eternity. His gift was His son’s death, resurrection and our subsequent salvation “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5b-7) Paul’s second book to the Corinthians puts the money side of generosity in context using the Macedonian believers who “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…” (2 Cor. 8:2) Then in 9:13, Paul combines the two and writes “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God…for your generosity in sharing with them…”. So, God wants us to be generous because He is generous to us, to be financially self-sacrificing in our generosity and to serve others with our use of time and talents. It is rather difficult to imitate God and live up to the examples He has praised in the Bible, but it is a challenge placed before us by our creator, redeemer and sanctifier.

Prayer
Triune God, You have placed before us examples of Generosity that we want to live up to so that we can please You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can be strengthened to follow in Your steps.