GENEROSITY: THE JOY OF GIVING

Pastoral Messages by Matriarch Elnette Edwards

Dear ones,

Generosity is more than giving money—it’s a posture of the heart that freely shares time, resources, grace, and love. It’s the opposite of stinginess and scarcity mentality. Generous people don’t give from obligation or guilt but from joy, recognizing that everything they have is a gift from God to be shared for His purposes.

Jesus said it’s more blessed to give than to receive. This is counterintuitive to our nature, which wants to accumulate and protect. But those who’ve experienced the joy of generous giving know it’s true. There’s something deeply satisfying about meeting someone’s need, about being the answer to someone’s prayer, about using what God gave you to bless someone else.

I learned generosity from my mother, who had little materially but gave much. She shared food with neighbors even when our cupboards were bare. She opened our home to those who needed shelter. She gave her time to those who were lonely. She taught me that generosity isn’t about how much you have—it’s about how willing you are to share what you have.

Trending

GODLINESS

The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. He’s not impressed with grudging generosity or gifts given to impress others. He values the heart behind the gift. When we give joyfully, motivated by love rather than obligation, our generosity becomes worship. It declares that we trust God’s provision and value His priorities.

Generosity also opens the windows of heaven. Jesus promised that when we give, it will be given back to us—pressed down, shaken together, running over. This isn’t a formula for getting rich—it’s a principle that generous people experience God’s abundant provision. You can’t outgive God. When you give faithfully, He ensures you have what you need and more to give.

I’ve tested this principle repeatedly and found it absolutely true. Every time I’ve given sacrificially—whether financially or otherwise—God has provided in unexpected ways. Sometimes the provision was immediate and obvious. Other times it came later and differently than expected. But I’ve never lacked because I gave generously.

Generosity must also be wise. Jesus commended the shrewd manager who used resources wisely. We should give thoughtfully, prayerfully, and strategically—not impulsively or foolishly. We should give where it truly helps, not where it enables dysfunction. Wise generosity considers long-term impact, not just immediate need.

I’ve also learned that generosity includes non-material gifts. Generous people give their time to listen, their presence to comfort, their encouragement to strengthen, their wisdom to guide, and their prayers to support. Sometimes a generous listening ear means more than money. Sometimes generous patience with someone’s process means more than quick solutions.

But here’s what challenges me: the widow’s offering. She gave two small coins—all she had—while wealthy people gave from their abundance. Jesus said she gave more because it cost her everything. True generosity gives sacrificially, not just conveniently. It gives what costs us something, not just our excess.

Generosity also creates a legacy. When children watch parents give generously, they learn generosity. When church members see leaders give sacrificially, they’re inspired to do likewise. Your generosity doesn’t just impact those you give to—it influences those watching you give.

The ultimate example of generosity is God Himself. He didn’t hold back His own Son but gave Him freely for us. He gives us every good and perfect gift. He pours out His Spirit, His grace, His mercy, His love—lavishly, abundantly, generously. We give because He first gave to us.

Examine your heart today. Are you generous or stingy? Do you share freely or hold tightly? Do you give joyfully or grudgingly? Ask God to cultivate generosity in you—not so you can feel good about yourself, but so others can experience His provision through you. Be generous with your time, your resources, your grace, your love. You’ll discover that the greatest joy isn’t in receiving but in giving.

Generously giving, 

Matriarch Elnette Edwards