The River Jordan and the Dead Sea are two well known water sources in Israel. The River Jordan receives its water from four other rivers and then passes this water onto it’s final destination, the Dead Sea.
The River Jordan is considered by many to be a sacred river. It is a thriving river with 22 species of fish, it is mentioned almost 200 times in the Bible with many references to miracles and healing, and in Genesis 13:10 it is described as a source of fertility for the Garden of the LORD. Perhaps most significantly, Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The Dead Sea, on the other hand is nine times saltier than normal ocean water, therefore no underwater animals can survive in it. If the Dead Sea is devoid of life, then it could be argued that the River Jordan in contrast is a ‘River of Life.’
You might be wondering what any of this has to do with being generous but bear with me. I believe that the River Jordan is a great example of how God wants us to steward the resources that he has given us. Specifically, He pours His resources into us and we in turn pass those resources into other areas as directed by Him. This is a continuous cycle which allows us to be vibrant, significant, and full of life like the River Jordan.
The reality, however is that some of us behave like the Dead Sea with our resources. We hoard and acquire more and more and do not pass on our resources. Despite accumulating more and more, there is stagnation and frustration in life. Proverbs 11:24 (NLT) says:
‘Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything’
Looking at it logically, this doesn’t make sense. However, ‘Biblical Economics’ is not like regular economics and the rules of the Kingdom go contrary to what society has led us to believe. When we reset our thinking to understand that the secret to our prosperity is in generosity, we open the door for God to bless us, not only financially but in all areas of life. Proverbs 19:17 (ESV) says:
‘Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed’
Wow. Biblical economics strikes again. You are looking for what investment will provide you with strong returns? Follow God’s Word and be generous to the poor and He will repay – with sizeable interest no doubt! However, this takes faith and a realignment of our current thinking. When it comes down to it, what will you trust? An excessive bank balance or God’s Word? You may look at your situation and think that you can’t afford to give. However, given the evidence presented it is my belief that you cannot afford NOT to give!
The Heart of Giving
The most important part of giving is your heart. If you give with bad intentions or for the wrong motives, you are not only wasting your time but also your money. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) it says:
‘You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’
Give as you feel is right in your heart and do it with a smile on your face.
One final reason to be generous is because God, Our Father is himself a Giver. We all know John 3:16 that says, ‘For God so loved that he GAVE his only Son..’ Jesus Himself said in Acts 20:35, ‘..’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ It is the heart of God and Jesus His Son to give generously. If we are to be more like Them, we must give as They do.
How Much Should We Give?
As stated earlier, it is up to each individual to give as much or little as guided by their heart and their current situation. I will point out that ‘giving’ in this sense is separate to tithing (returning 10% of our income to God). I will assume that already happens but will cover this in more detail another time.
Ultimately, how much we give depends on deciding how much we truly need to live our life appropriately and being generous with anything above this. There is a classic line in the film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Shia LaBouef is having a discussion with an investment manager and he ask him, ‘What is your number? How much will it take to make you happy?’ The investment manager pauses, looks at him straight in the eyes and simply says, ‘More.’ Ladies and gentlemen, this is not it. In Luke 12:15 (NLT) Jesus said:
‘“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”’
It may appear ironic coming from a finance blogger but there really is more to life than what your bank balance is or how many cars you have.
It’s important to add that it’s not just money that we can be generous with. Our time and talent or expertise could be just as, if not more valuable.
Who Should We Give To?
Once again, I am very reluctant to be too prescriptive around who you should give your resources to as it will depend on your personal situation and your Circle of Influence. However, generally the following places are worthy causes to give to:
- Your local church
- Those who are genuinely in need
- Charities or Food Banks
There are many more examples, however it’s important to understand that generosity is not a set of transactions but a way of life.
If you’re a Christian and you’ve never paid for your friends meal and/or drinks, you’re doing it wrong. If you will indulge me one moment of smugness, I fulfilled a big ambition of mine a few years ago which was to pay for the entire meal of my Small Group when we went to Chiquito’s (It was meant to be a surprise but someone found out and started ordering cocktails!).
My nearest and dearest will probably be in the comments detailing many instances when my generosity was lacking but the point of the story is to think big with your generosity.
How will you be generous this year? This month? Today?
God bless
Ten Talents
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