Generosity Blesses the Giver

Many children raised money to help the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Few were as young as Will Merchant, who was only six years old when he learned about other kids raising money and came up with his own plan. By selling his original artwork, Will raised $500 to help earthquake victims.

He was asked why he wanted to help people he’d never met. His answer: “God led me in my heart to do that.” There are many different motivations for helping others. Sometimes it comes from a desire for public recognition, but this is not generosity. True generosity springs from empathy, kindness, and love.

Being generous always blesses the giver. The generous person might not benefit in ways that are obvious to others. In fact, their gift might be spurned or unappreciated. But even then, there is something positive that happens inside the heart of the person who gives.

On the other hand, according to the proverb, being stingy has an opposite outcome—it leads to poverty. This is always true, not necessarily in material things, but at least in a spiritual sense.

The Bible says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:25). This doesn’t mean that generous people will necessarily receive material gain in return for their generosity, though that sometimes happens; yet they can count on other forms of enrichment.

There are definite emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits to giving. People who give out of generosity report more happiness; negative emotions are lessened and positive emotions are strengthened, which can support good health. The spiritual blessing of giving comes from God, the Ultimate Giver.

Key Bible Texts

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24 KJV)