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“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

This past year I finished a counted cross stitch piece with the message, “Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.” It has sweet little quilts, small country-dressed girls, and sleeping kitties. I thought its meaning had to do with cleaning up all the little cluttered piles around my house, the little corners where things accumulated, or the pretty baskets where I put things thinking I’d use them later. Or, I thought, it meant getting rid of too many things in my home, my life, my world so that I could be freer to do what God whispers in my ear at various times and places.

But one day, I learned an entirely different meaning to word, “simplicity.” At the same time in one day, these two verses came up on my two desk calendars. Struck by the not so obvious coincidence, I began to study the scriptures in the Greek and Hebrew. I was struck by a recurring theme; they spoke of “singleness, simplicity, sincerity, not self-seeking, openness of heart,” among other meanings.

Suddenly, “simplicity” took on a whole different significance to me. In the New Testament, the word, “generosity” or “simplicity” is used eight times, five times alone in the letters to the Corinthians. The Old Testament uses the word 64 times and is more inclusive with “blessing, source of blessing, prosperity, praise of God, a gift, a present.” The thesaurus has more explanatory words such as “openhandedness, bigheartedness, liberality, bounty.”

It is fascinating to note that nowhere does it say anything about money, things, or any kind of materials. Yes, the Apostle Paul referred to the gifts that the Corinthians had sent that allowed him to be generous to others, but in general “things” are not present. Perhaps God knew that if specific items were listed that they would be dismissed or distorted in our day or, perhaps, become a legalistic list of what must or must not be given. I don’t know, but without that list, the possibilities are open and endless.

Simplicity and openness of heart leave us more able to give of the nontangible realm to those around us. Giving a small amount of money to those in need instead of none at all is a simple gift. There are so many times when I wish I could open our checkbook and write a large check for a really worthy cause, but instead can only write a fraction of what is needed. Yet God sees that and multiplies it. It’s the small things that God uses. Could you give your warm, knitted scarf, hat, or gloves to someone on the street when you see them shivering? What about talking to a stranger for just a moment while waiting in line?

What might you give? Would you compliment someone? A parent alone with a child somewhere? “Your child is behaving so well, looks like you are doing a great job!” The light in their face outshines the weariness, and their heart is touched for just that moment. Is someone embarrassed because they have spilled their coffee, dropped their papers, lost their keys? Won’t you say a kind word? “You know, I dumped my coffee a few days ago, and did I feel silly!” As you help them wipe it up, as few words go a long way towards easing the public discomfort.

Bigheartedness opens doors, takes a hand, gives a hug, and speaks words of kindness over others. We are the salt of the world! We are the light on the hill! His light shines through us! Will you offer a drink of water to “refresh” someone? Do you see someone weeping? By letting them know you are there if they need you, or simply pressing a tissue into their hand, you are “refreshing” them. When you walk away, you are truly the one refreshed!

Paul says that we will be made rich on every occasion so that we can be generous on every occasion. Think of that for a moment, God makes us rich—he doesn’t say wealthy—so that we can give to others. Can you fold a load of laundry for a busy mom? Could you pick up some groceries for an elderly neighbor? How about bagging a batch of leaves for the people across the street when they are not home? Do you know someone who is unemployed and struggling? Try slipping some money into their hand and telling them it is a gift. This releases them from the burden of feeling they must repay you and lightens a bit of their load for a moment.

Has someone confided a need to you? Is there a way to meet it secretly? Won’t you do it quietly and simply? Giving from a generous heart makes your heart lighter, and your soul rejoices with thanks to God for His Goodness to us. It’s a wonderful feeling to simply give without wanting to get, and there is a gladness within when we do things with no desire for repayment. It’s even more fun to teach our children to do this, and watching the surprise that comes over their faces as they realize what fun it really is to give to someone else.

We have a glorious privilege as believers of being rich on every occasion because God gives it to us first. We can give generously on every occasion because it has been given to us first by God. His generosity in our lives isn’t just the material things which surround us, although we have so much more than the rest of the world. His generosity fills us with His Holy Spirit which enables us to offer more deeply of what is within us to those around us.

You see, generosity is really lovely, like glistening crystal. When gleaming and immaculate, others who see it will admire its beauty and clarity. Are you polished and shining today? Or has your glistening crystal of generosity, kindness, and openheartedness been mislaid? Thank God for His generosity in our lives. May we live this year in simplicity, generosity, and kindness.

Copyright by Desiree Pheister

Desirée L.M. Pheister is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of four. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, needlework and looking for ways to bless others. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com