If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t. 2 Corinthians 8:12 TLB
Generosity is an attitude, not an amount. That’s the wisdom one of the most generous and godly men of my generation, Pastor Rick Warren, has learned. God is not interested in the amount you give, but the attitude that motivates your gift. Everyone has the ability to give something. Giving is freely letting go of something that belongs to you to someone else. That in itself is a wonderful act. But no matter what you do or what you give, it’s important to check your motivation. Why? Because God wants you to “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17 NIV). He wants you, for your own benefit, to go beyond simply giving and become radically generous.
So, what is radical generosity? God has been unquestionable and unbelievably generous toward us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This fact alone should impact our generosity. Of course, it is false and foolish to assume God wants us to “pay back” God for His goodness to us, or us to think we could. There has been so much discussion and debate over the years about what amount people should give – is tithing necessary? Is it enough? C. S. Lewis touched on this theme when he wrote, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” Truth. Jesus was clear. When He watched the rich people give and the poor widow give (Luke 21:1-4), he declared that generosity springs from attitude and ability, not amount.
Pastor Warren is well-known for his “reverse tithing,” meaning he gives back 90% and lives on 10%. He has authored many books, and also gives 90% of those royalties back to the ministry and the three foundations he created with his wife to promote evangelism and to fight poverty, illiteracy, and disease. He lives simply. The people who know him best, love and respect him most. But you don’t have to look far to find written criticisms of him and his radical generosity. Some don’t believe it, and some think he should find ways to give away more. I believe in his heart and am perfectly willing to trust him with the rest of his money. 😊
"I believe people usually fall into one of two categories with their giving: Kingdom Builders and Wealth Builders … Wealth Builders continue to amass wealth for themselves no matter how much they make. Kingdom Builders change the rules of the game. They make as much money as they can, but they do it to give it away. They use the wealth to fund God’s church and its mission in the world.” Thanks, Pastor Rick. I want to be a Kingdom Builder. That’s my attitude.
- God doesn’t expect me to do what I can’t. But He does want me to find the joy in doing all I can.