March 6 - Generosity Creates Community

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

The dictionary defines generosity as: readiness or liberality in giving, freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character, a generous act, largeness or fullness; amplitude, goodness, hospitality, kindness, unselfishness, open handedness.

The last in the list above, open-handedness, stands out. The Portrait of a Disciple, one of the teaching tools we use when learning to become a disciple of Jesus, uses open hands to illustrate a characteristic we take on as disciples. This open hand suggests reaching out to neighbors, strangers, and friends in need.

Generosity, invokes a picture of giving money, sharing our tithes and offerings at church. These are true pictures of generosity, but incomplete. As the definition reveals above, kindness, unselfishness and goodness are also traits of a generous person.

The connection between generosity and community becomes clear in Matthew 6:21, "Your heart will be where your treasure is." The first Christians were famous for their open-handed practices. Acts 2:42 tell us, "the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul...all things were common property to them. Acts 4:42 further tells that the believers were one in heart and mind. This is true community.

"But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you--see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (verse 7)

Portrait of a Disciple