Generosity & Wisdom: Why You Need Both

The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Galatians, urged them to walk in the Spirit, stating that the fruits (or results) of doing so would be love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. While generosity and wisdom aren't directly listed, it's impossible to have many of these fruits without either of these valuable attributes. Generosity, for instance, springs directly from love and goodness; at the same time, self-control and patience are signs of wisdom at work in one's life.

Every single follower of Jesus should be both wise and generous. Following is an overview of what that means and how it can be applied to day-to-day life.

What Is Generosity

Jesus had a lot to say about generosity in the Sermon on the Mount. He told people to give when someone asks and not turn away anyone who needs a loan. He told the people to give, and it would be given to them; what's more, the same measure that one uses to measure would be used to measure back to him or her again. The early Christians lived Jesus' words to the fullest extent possible; in fact, the Bible states in Acts that believers did not claim items as their own but rather shared everything with their fellow believers.

Put simply, generosity means being willing to share as needed with anyone who is in need. What's more, this command doesn't just apply to finances. It also includes sharing one's time, attention, forgiveness, and encouragement.

What Does It Mean To Be Wise?

Most people equate wisdom with the ability to use knowledge properly, to have common sense, and to make good decisions. These are certainly attributes of wisdom; however, in the Bible, wisdom has a far deeper meaning. In Psalm 111, King David proclaims that the beginning of wisdom is to fear (respect) the Lord. Those who obeyed and followed God's commands were typically referred to as wise men while those who were ignorant of or chose to disobey God's commands were referred to as fools or foolish men. Jesus brings this illustration to life in the well-known parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man.

In the Bible, wisdom was considered to be, along with kindness and justice, one of the most important virtues for one to strive for, and it's not hard to see why. Obedience to God's commands is perhaps one of the most important ways in which wisdom is manifested; however, such wisdom must have a source or one will soon tire of pursuing the fruits of God's spirit in a world that promotes selfishness and self-centeredness. The Bible says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he or she can ask God for wisdom, and God will grant it. However, God also expects us to do our part by coming to Him and spending time listening to His voice and reading His Word.

The Wisdom of Generosity in Everyday Life

Obedience to God is synonymous with wisdom in the Bible, and it is clear that the Bible commands believers to be generous with their finances, time, and encouragement. The wisdom of generosity is knowing that, first of all, everything one has and owns is God-given, and second, understanding that God's blessing for living a wise, generous life is more than worth the sacrifice.

Wisdom is shown by staying close to God by spending time with Him every day, trusting Him for the outcome of life's challenges rather than giving in to anxiety and stress, and making obedience to God's words a priority in daily living. Wisdom can be exhibited in simple actions such as ignoring a rude comment rather than answering back; showing extra patience with an irate boss, co-worker, or family member; taking time to pray for those in need of help rather than spending hours binge-watching TV shows, and caring for one's body as the Bible commands by eating right, getting sufficient exercise, etc.

There are also many ways in which one can show generosity every single day. Generous actions include donating to disenfranchised individuals while sharing encouragement with them; giving an extra offering on Sunday to help the poor and support the mission of the church; and lending money to a family member when he or she asks for help. Generosity is also shown by offering encouragement to a struggling family member or co-worker, taking time to look for ways to compliment those who cross one's path, spending extra time with a child or grandchild, or taking time to listen to a struggling friend rather than working on one's own hobbies.

Those who live a wise, generous life won't regret it. They will enjoy the fruits of their actions both now and in the life to come. The Bible promises that Jesus will reward each person according to his or her works; while believers are cleansed by Jesus' blood and stand righteous before Him as a result, He still offers extra blessings to those who follow His teaching and live in love and generosity. Many of these blessings can even be enjoyed on earth; in fact, even unbelievers know that generous people tend to live longer and are physically and mentally healthier than those who choose to be stingy and selfish.

As humans, we may struggle to remain motivated to live wisely and generously. For this reason, it's a good idea to partner with others who are also striving to live wise, generous lives. Furthermore, working with others can enable believers to not only grow in wisdom but also do more for the poor and needy than a single individual would have been able to do on his or her own. The Chicago Church of Christ can be a great place to meet fellow believers, grow spiritually, and work with others to show the world a sample of God-inspired love and generosity.