Someone who lives a life of generosity is different. They view their role in life differently. They view their resources differently. And their word choice often reflects these differences.
I am fortunate to have been surrounded by several generous men and women. They really believe that God has not designed them to be hoarders but conduits through which His generosity flows. And when you talk to them, you hear certain words on a regular basis.
What are some of those words? Let’s look at 6 words generous people often use:
- His. Generous people will tell you that the resources in their possession are not really theirs. They believe that God owns everything. They see this in the first verse of the Bible when God creates the universe. And because they believe He owns everything, they have a specific view of their role.
- Steward. Generous people believe that, since God is the owner, they are managers of the resources He has given them. They are to steward these possessions wisely for His purposes and not their own. They are to use their time, money, and talents for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
- Invest. Since they are to use their resources to advance God’s Kingdom, generous people are very particular as to what they invest in. They know they want to find ways to make a difference in this world for Christ. And so they use their resources to do just that.
- Imagine. Generous people desire others to be generous as well. They know that there can be a considerable impact made when several men and women come together and use their resources for Christ. Generous people like to “imagine if.” Imagine if everyone got serious about stewarding their resources in a way that allowed for serious Kingdom impact. Imagine if people got financially healthy, not just for the sake of being financially healthy, but for the sake of increasing their ability to make a difference in this world.
- Yes. Generous people like to help. They like to say yes. They look for opportunities to invest their resources in the Kingdom. And when they arise, they approach them with hands wide open.
- Content. Generous people know that the more you keep for yourself, the more you want. Hoarding leads to more hoarding. Likewise, generous people know that the more open-handed you are with your resources, the more content you become.
The great news is that anyone can develop a mindset of generosity. It does not matter whether you have much or little. God has given you some resources to steward, and it is up to you to figure out how to leverage those resources for God’s Kingdom.
Written by Art Rainer, member of the Summit Stewardship and Generosity Ministry Leadership Team.
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