How I’m Learning a Life of Generosity

** I am HONORED to feature this guest blog from Bailey Balogh! Bailey is 16 years old, and I have had the joy of knowing her for her entire life. Bailey is refreshingly authentic and deeply compassionate in her love for Jesus and others. Her wisdom and love are a great blessing to everyone she meets. I just KNOW you'll love her as much as we do! - Chuck

When I think of the word “generosity,” I usually think of handing a homeless person food or money, sharing something with someone in need, or giving a "generous" tip after a meal. But what does being generous really mean? 

Perhaps we should ask a better question: “What does a life of generosity look like?” After all, any of us can be generous every now and then on a good day…but being generous for a lifetime? Now, that’s another thing entirely. A lifetime of generosity seems long, exhausting, and potentially hard on the bank account.

My family likes to say that generosity is giving what you have and watching the miracle unfold, just like the loaves and fishes in the Bible. 

“Generosity is giving what you have and watching the miracle unfold.”

The ultimate act of generosity was the sacrificial death Jesus endured for us so we could have relationship with him and experience eternal life. We, as humans, could never earn a gift like this. We deserved nothing, and yet God gave everything! And now he invites us to follow him by life lives of gratitude and generosity.

That all sounds wonderful, but I am notorious for hating hypothetical teachings that I can't actually LIVE out for myself. So, recently when God brought the topic of “a life of generosity” to mind for a school project, I decided to spend some intentional time living it out first. It was my own kind of experiment, so I would not merely answer from my head but posture my heart with God’s and have a living testimony to share with my friends.

Many of the ways I practiced generosity were simple, needing only a shift in my attitude and availability. In this, I learned that simple acts are just as important as elaborate ones when it comes to generosity. Here are 3 ways I practiced generosity:

I practiced being generous with my TIME.

I sat and braided my sister's hair one day when I happened to be already very busy. She asked for my help, and instead of shooing her away, I put down what I was doing and helped her with something she couldn't do on her own. Being generous with my time is probably the hardest for me. 

I tend to convince myself that I “lack” time when the truth is I have the same amount as everyone else: I’m just spending it on myself. When I feel like I’m racing to take care of myself, the last thing I want to do is to stoop down and help somebody else. But when I choose to put my “needs” aside to help somebody else, I feel way more satisfied with my use of time than if I’d just kept preoccupied with myself. 

It is funny how God teaches us. The other day, I was stressed out trying to write my project on generosity when my little brother, Everett, walked into my room with his grammar book. This happens a lot. Usually, I tell him I can’t help him…and yes, sometimes I yell for him to go away. Well, this time, he started to enter my room, saw me on my computer, and just gave up and walked out. I wanted to feel relieved, but then I remembered all God is teaching me about being generous with my time. “Hey buddy,” I called. “Did you need my help with something?” He ran in with his face lit up. “Yeah! I did…um, how do you spell, ‘barked?’ Like a dog going, ‘bark, bark’?” All he needed was a little help spelling a simple word that he, as an 8-year-old, most likely wouldn’t know. It took less than a literal minute to help him. I felt bad for all the times I’d sent him away. But that day, seeing what happens when I make myself available also felt great. 

I practiced being generous with my WORDS.

A while ago, I realized that one of my love languages is “words of affirmation.” The hardest part of this newfound love language of mine was knowing that I had been really bad at reciprocating it. I felt loved when I'd get a beautiful card from someone with kind words, but then disappointed that I felt so awkward trying to return the gesture. 

So, I spent time looking up a ton of Bible verses that offer words of life so I would be ready to give them to people as an encouragement. I made a list of 15 attributes I saw in a friend and got to watch how much it blessed her. And I’m growing in the confidence to return the words of affirmation that I so love to receive.

I practiced being generous with WHAT I HAD.

I don't have a lot. I'm only 16, and I'm not rich, but I am learning that being generous with what we have can be much easier than we make it.

We as people can struggle with the real feeling that we aren't being provided for or won't have enough when we need it. This is an orphan mindset. When we live life believing that there’s not enough to go around, it will be nearly impossible to be generous. Instead, if we see God as our loving Father who Himself is generous to us, then we are free to extend his generosity to others! So, that’s what I started doing. 

I bought a brand new pack of gum to my school one week and shared it with everyone, resulting in many happy friends and one empty container. I gave away a new dress I’d only worn once for the blessing I knew it would be for a friend. The point of these stories is not to brag about myself but to show how simple generosity can be if we’d only position our attitude and attention.

Generosity is obedience, even if we never see the fruit or impact our generosity makes. And God is pleased by our obedience: 

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Our words, time, talents, money, things, and stories can all be avenues of generosity. But mostly, generosity is a heart posture. We can give a huge sum of money to a very good cause or pray for a homeless man on the street and give him clothes, but if it's all for an image, ego, or story, then we’ve missed the Gospel. That said, when our hearts are in the right place, even the smallest move of generosity can make a world of difference. In Luke 21, Jesus watched lots of wealthy people placing large gifts in the temple treasury but then turned his gaze to a poor woman who put in two small coins as an offering to God.

"Truly I tell you," he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:3-4

So, here is my call to you. A life of generosity can be simple: it comes down to obedience toward our Father and love for others. I challenge you this week to find a practical avenue of generosity, whether it's being generous with your time, talents, money, words, or whatever you have in your hands. You can do it! I believe in you! And God can't wait to celebrate you too!