Like many graduate students, my wife and I live in a small apartment. It is by no means extravagant, but we are grateful for it. I think that many who are in a similar situation as us often miss the opportunity to be generous with their home, even if the square footage is minimal.

When we hear of someone being generous, we usually think in terms of money or time. However, generosity comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some may have a lot to give, and some may only have a little. What makes a person generous is not the amount of money he or she can give, but rather the condition of their heart. Jesus taught this in Luke 21:3-4, when he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

With that being said, maybe you do not have much to give monetarily. Maybe you’re like my wife and I, and you live in a small house or apartment. God does not give us a square footage threshold we must cross before we are generous with our homes.

So here are four ways in which you can be generous with a small apartment or home:

1. Invite someone over for dinner. Instead of having a large party, invite a friend or couple over for dinner. You will have better opportunities to get to know them on a deeper level than if you were with a large group of people. One of the greatest ways you can be generous with your home is by inviting someone over.


2. Offer your home. Whether you rent or buy your home, you do not actually own it. Your home and everything in it is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). You can offer your washer and dryer to a family who has a flooded home, or you can offer your closet to your upstairs neighbor in the middle of a tornado warning. Offering your home to others in need is a great way to remind yourself that it all belongs to God.


3. Cook meals for others. This can be a great way to help neighbors or friends during a difficult time. They won’t ask for it, but it would be nice if they did not have to worry about dinner for a night or two.


4. Get out of the house. Living in a small house or apartment can bring you closer to your spouse and children. However, there are times that we just need to be by ourselves. One of the most generous things you can do for your spouse sometimes is get out of the house for a while. Take the kids to the park or run some errands. Your spouse will greatly appreciate the alone time.

If you have a large house, wonderful! Use it to advance God’s Kingdom. If you have a small house, fantastic! Use it to advance God’s Kingdom. Whether your home is large or small, our opportunity remains the same. We get to be generous with our home and point others to Him.