In ancient times, to be generous meant you were born into a noble family. Someone of good stock, high character, and an elevated status. It’s not just a name. It also meant the same of your character.

But over time, that meaning shifted. Today, we don’t equate generosity with birthright — but with a heart that gives freely. So when we call someone generous today, we’re really saying this person acts nobly, not because of their bloodline, but because of their heart. A generous person is marked by kindness, unselfishness, and a willingness to give freely.

As followers of Christ, we are both noble by adoption and generous by calling. Baptized into the family of the King, we are royalty, and we are sent to live like it. To give freely. To serve humbly. To reflect the generosity of Jesus in every good deed. In short, we are called, saved, and sent to be generously Jesus.

Scripture puts it this way: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. And through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)

Behind every good deed is a generous heart. Behind every generous heart is Jesus’s generous gift of the Holy Spirit.

And because generosity begins not with us, it does begin with Him. That’s nobility. That’s generous. That’s Jesus.

At Lutheran Church Charities, we get to witness generously Jesus:

• Our trained DR teams who give of their time, equipment, and labor to serve those who have been impacted by a storm
• Our HMC teams who pour time and detail into the crafting of each one of the over 3,000 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion that have been received
• A K-9 Comfort Dog team who loads up once again to travel many miles to bring comfort to those grieving
• Our LCC Care teams who give so much time to sit and listen to others who are hurting and trying to find their way
• Our LCC donors — when you give to LCC, you’re not just supporting a ministry, you’re stepping into someone’s story

You and your gift is standing supportively behind every good deed. Every good deed that we do that is generously Jesus.

Prayer
Jesus, You are the most Generous Giver the world has ever known. You gave everything so that we could live. Shape our hearts to be like Yours. Help us give our time, our words, our resources, and our lives. Not reluctantly, but generously. Just as Jesus did. Let our giving reflect Your grace, and may every good deed point back to You. Send us to be generously Jesus in all we say and do. And it is in His name we pray. Amen.

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