“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.” ~ Wayne Dyer
Generosity reflects the nature of God. Out of God’s unlimited abundance, He freely and graciously gives good things to His children. As Christian leaders, we must always remember that our Heavenly Father “owns the cattle of a thousand hills”. He alone is our provider and sustainer. All the blessings in our lives come from Him and He has promised to meet our every need. We must have an “abundance mindset” and trust God’s provision in our lives. When we give to God by being generous to others, we demonstrate our trust in God and honor Him through our gift.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT)
You can never out-give God! He will always re-supply the authentic giver with more to give. Never wait until you have “more” so you can give. Trust that you have abundance right now and give freely and generously of your time, talent and treasure with an abundance mindset. Generous giving is an exercise of faith that will stretch you. Caution: This is not a transactional formula in which you give to fulfill some requirement that obligates God to give you more. This is a relational trust between a child and their Father in which the child wants to imitate the Father through giving.
An open hand is evidence of an open heart. We must resist the urge to tighten our grip on the things we possess due to fear of loss. If we truly trust God and His abundant provision in our lives and organizations, faith in our Father will overcome fear of loss.
Why do we worry about “getting a piece of the pie” when our Father owns the bakery? A scarcity mindset is a reflection of fear and limited faith. An abundant mindset can only be gained through a faith perspective. This must never be casual or reckless. Prayerful contemplation by faith is essential in being a good steward of all that God has entrusted to you. You will always need to manage the natural tension in the balance of wise stewardship and generous giving. This is a heart issue that involves both obedience and trust.
Let me challenge you today to live with an abundance mindset and be intentionally generous in your giving. You will not only be a blessing to those who receive your gift, but you will have the opportunity to honor your Heavenly Father. As you honor God in the presence of others, you will draw them into worshiping Him through their thanksgiving and praise. Being generous in this way is simply saying: “it’s not about me, it’s all about Him”.