Generosity
When we think of generosity, what comes to mind? To me, I think of giving someone a material thing. It is usually money or a gift and will help someone financially or bring them joy.
Today I am blogging about generosity in the workplace. (Side note, researching and writing this blog has really touched my heart and my hope is it will touch your heart also.)
When we go to work everyday we are paid for something we do. When we receive a bonus check it is because the owners are being generous. They could keep the money for the business or for themselves, but they choose to give it to their employees – that’s why it is called a bonus!! The owners are going above and beyond what is expected and they are being generous.
When was the last time you went above and beyond what was expected of you and were generous at work? When I enter a branch at my place of work, I greet people as I see them with a hello and then get busy with my day. What if I took on an attitude of being more generous to people I work with daily? Think about this…we spend more time with our work colleagues than our own family and friends during a week. When was the last time you gave a minute to really engage with someone at work you usually breeze right by?
When we read the Bible and dig into the Gospels, Jesus wants us to be generous! Paul reminds us of Jesus generous heart in Acts 21:35, “…You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Let us not only be generous and giving with our money (treasures), but with our time and talents also!
As I continue to read Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly, my heart keeps softening even more towards our Lord and His ways. Jesus was radical in His teachings and His ways. Radical means to get to the root of things! Jesus did this in His teachings. Generosity is the heart of Jesus throughout the Gospels and can be our hearts too!
When we walk into work and engage in a full 8 hours, generosity is not usually top priority on our list. So let’s talk about that…think about your time. Are you generous with it?
Do we make time for our coworkers on a personal level? Actually stop and ask them how their weekend went and then really listen vs giving a trite un-engaging response. What an amazing gift of generosity we could give if we engaged and cared what fellow colleagues talked to us about. If we actually listened to them with the heart of Jesus.
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 11:24
How about making time for the vendor that wants to stop by and talk with you? I am so guilty for saying “I am too busy.” Am I really too busy or am I just not willing to be generous with my time? We could be the light for that person that day! We must be generous with our time!
Jesus spent so much time with so many unlikely people. Tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers. People grumbled because Jesus gave His time to ALL, no matter what their background or sin. Jesus said to Zacchaeus (a tax collector and sinner of greed) who was sitting in a fig tree in Luke chapter 19, “ Zacchaeus, quick come down! I must be a guest in your home today!” Jesus was generous with His time.
Let’s look at our talent God so graciously gives us daily to perform our jobs. As we work, do we share our expertise generously with others in the office? I have been guilty for not wanting to share an idea on something in fear that someone will run with it and get the credit vs me. I am not being generous with my talent. As we grow in Christ, we will learn to give Him all the credit for our success and not CARE about being praised by humans. I am learning and my heart is changing. We must humble ourselves and keep working toward this goal of generosity with our talent.
“…And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” 1Peter 5:5-6
Then there are treasures. As we strive to go to work daily and make money – what are we doing with our money? Are we generously giving to our church each week in the form of a tithe? My friends, that is 10% of what we bring home in our paychecks to be given to our church. That’s a big command and commitment to wrap our heads around, BUT it is written and we must follow as Christians. My new attitude now is I get to keep 90% of my income!! Yay!! Thank you God!!!
When it comes to our money, are we gathering it to buy more stuff? Matthew Kelly hit me hard when he said go open your coat closet… how many coats do you have? I was humbled to say the least. My immediate thought was…I need all these coats for work, but… do I need all of these coats for work? NO! I do not! Am I being generous with my treasures?
“Anyone who has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:11
My friends, as we grow closer to the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, say the word GENEROSITY over and over in your head. Let this Christmas have a new meaning for you! Rediscover Jesus this Christmas and become GENEROSITY.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
HOW do we become more generous? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to be more generous with your time, talent and treasures not only at work but in your personal lives too!
Generosity is incredibly attractive says Matthew Kelly and I AGREE! When we learn to give our time, talent and treasures freely we will become so attractive to people. People will want to be around us! Generosity all starts naturally when we embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ. Please read your Bibles and embrace Jesus Christ!
I will close with a question to consider from Rediscover Jesus:
‘How is God inviting you to become more generous?’
Love you all and enjoy your families this week of Thanksgiving!
Lisa
#wwrf #rediscoverjesus2019 #generosity #Jesus #Christmas
