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Today’s Generosity Gives Me Significance

Why Generosity Matters

Giving Turns Our Focus Outward – No one enjoys being around people who think they are the only people in the room. When you give to others it will naturally change a person’s focus. Generosity is described as simply changing ones focus from self to others. Seneca the Roman poet stated “No man can live happily who regards himself alone, who turns everything to his own advantage. You must live for others if you wish to live for yourself.”

Giving Adds Value To Others – President Woodrow Wilson stated “You are not here to merely make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of home and achievement. You are here to enrich the world and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

Giving Helps The Giver – Ruth Smeltzer declared that you have not lived a perfect day, even though you earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you. King Solomon of scripture suggests that “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” [Proverbs 11:24-25 MSG]. Simply stated you cannot help another see their path until you cast light on your own path.

How do you manage the discipline of generosity?

It begins with this statement – Every day I will add value to others! Practically this means…

• VALUE PEOPLE – Treat people with respect
• KNOW WHAT PEOPLE VALUE – Listen and seek to understand others
• MAKE MYSELF VALUABLE – I must grow in order to give because I cannot give what I do not possess
• DO THINGS THAT GOD VALUES – Since God unconditionally loves people, so must I

Here are three (3) practical keys…

1.Do not wait for prosperity to become generous. A person’s level of income and their desire to give have nothing to do with one another. There are generous people with precious little material possessions. Henry Ward Beecher stated that prosperity could in fact destroy generosity. If you desire to become a generous person, do not wait for your income to change. Change your heart!

2.Find a reason to give every day. Go out of your way to find reasons to give and help others daily. Look for a compelling cause to support. Find an urgent need. Seek out leaders and causes that you believe in.

3.Find people to receive every day. D. L. Moody once stated “Do all the good you can, to all of the people you, in all of the ways that you can, as long as you can.” There are people that are in need all around. Martin Luther King Jr. stated once that life’s most urgent question is ,“What are we doing for others?”

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!