Cultivating a Generous Heart
It’s always ironic to me that after Thanksgiving—a holiday to pause, reflect, and give thanks—Black Friday follows immediately after. It’s a day of deals, frenzy, and the push to buy more and more. Buying things isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s striking how quickly the world tries to steer our hearts from gratitude toward discontentment, comparison, and a scarcity mindset.
But Jesus teaches us an upside-down way of living.
He taught lessons like: "the first shall be last," "whoever wants to gain their life will lose it," and "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
As believers, we’re called into this upside-down, countercultural way of life. And in a world shaped by consumerism—where inflation is high, anxieties are rising, and everyone seems to be grasping for more—we are called to embody the generosity Jesus demonstrated for us through his life, his ministry, and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
So, what does the Bible teach us about generosity?
Generosity is a reflection of God’s heart.
We don’t give because we’re naturally good and selfless. We give because God gave first.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave…”
Every act of generosity is a response to the generosity that Jesus extended to us first. When we recognize that everything we have is a gift from him, giving doesn’t feel like loss. It becomes an act of worship.
Generosity is not about money but our heart posture.
When we hear the word “generosity,” we tend to think of money. But the amount that we give doesn’t matter as much as the way in which we do it.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes this: “Give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Paul doesn’t prescribe how much to give—he speaks to the heart behind it. Generosity flows from trust, surrendering all that we have to God.
Generosity builds God’s Kingdom, Not Our Own.
Our culture is obsessed with building platforms, securing comfort, and accumulating wealth and influence. But none of what we have is really ours to begin with.
1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
When we shift our mindset from trying to build our own earthly kingdom to building God’s eternal Kingdom, we start to see our resources as God’s resources.
A Kingdom mindset shifts our perspective: “What I have is God’s, I’m simply a steward.”
Generosity isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a lifestyle.
Jesus didn’t live generously once—he did it daily. Over and over, he stopped for people, served them, healed them, and loved them sacrificially.
Generosity is the same. It’s not a single donation or a once-a-year decision—it’s a rhythm, a way of living, a posture that says, “Lord, whatever I have today is Yours.”
When our hearts align with his, generosity becomes less about giving something away and more about becoming someone new. It’s a spiritual discipline that shapes us into the likeness of Christ.
Today is Giving Tuesday—a global movement that encourages people to give their time, talents, and resources to non-profits to make our world a better place.
As you pray through how God is calling you to live generously this Christmas season, we’d love to invite you to join us at So We Speak if you feel prompted.
When you give to So We Speak, you help create more opportunities to reach even more people with biblical content that helps others stay informed without being conformed.
Together, let’s share the hope we have with the world around us. Kali Gibson is the editor-in-chief for So We Speak and a copywriter for the Youversion Bible App.
