God’s generosity knows no limits. He is not a keeper. He is a giver. And to be a giver, you have to have something to give. God has a lot: enough for you, enough for everyone at the same time, and enough to sustain all of creation.
It is good when someone says about you, “They’re a keeper.” It’s not so good if God says it about you. We are made to be like God, and those who are like Him experience abundant life. To be like God, we get to be givers. Understanding how generous God has been to you is where that starts.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)
This post comes from “Our Generous God,” a message in our series The Generous Life.
If you only have a minute:
- God adopted us. He paid the highest cost, His own Son, to bring us into His family.
- God keeps giving grace and mercy. Grace is a blessing we don’t deserve. Mercy is being spared the punishment we do deserve.
- God provides what we need to thrive. Breath, wisdom, resources and power all come from Him.
- Generosity is the Father’s DNA. When we give, we look like Him and take hold of the life that is truly life.
God’s generosity made a way into His family
Adoptive parents often pay a real cost to bring a child into their family. There can be a financial cost, sometimes a large one. There can be an emotional cost through the ups and downs of the process. And sometimes there is a relational cost. So how much did it cost God to adopt us into His family?
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:5-7)
That passage is from the New Living Translation (NLT). The why is what matters here. Adoption has a cost, and God paid it. The motive is love. The cost was not “nothing.” It was a huge expense, and love made the cost worthwhile.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)
If God has already given us the greatest thing, how much easier is it for Him to give us everything else? If someone gave you a million dollars, you wouldn’t wonder whether that same person could also give you ten thousand. And God didn’t give money. He gave something of far greater worth, His own Son. That is how much He loves you.
God’s generosity shows up as grace and mercy
It’s one thing to bring a child into a family. It’s another to keep providing for that child. Think of what a good parent gives: food, clothing, shelter and affection. All of it costs time, effort and resources, yet a good parent doesn’t keep a ledger. It’s simply an act of love for the child’s well-being. This is our Father.
- Grace is receiving a blessing or benefit you haven’t earned.
- Mercy is being spared from punishment or discipline you do deserve.
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” (Psalm 103:2-5)
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:8-13)
Both passages from Psalm 103 are from the NLT. They paint a picture of a God who not only forgives but restores and blesses His people.
Grace in action: a Disney VIP tour
Has anyone ever been gracious to you? In this message, a family’s story was shared of being given a Disney VIP tour: private access, no lines, being whisked onto rides. Everywhere they went, it felt like they didn’t belong, and truthfully, they didn’t. They hadn’t paid the steep price for that experience. It was a gift given out of generosity and kindness.
That’s grace. God is continually gracious to us, and His grace is infinitely greater. He doesn’t just give us experiences or comforts. He gives us salvation, peace and eternal life.
Mercy in motion: a missed final exam
Has anyone ever been merciful to you? The message also told of a student at the University of Florida who missed a final exam and deserved an F. Instead of a failing grade, the professor allowed the test to be retaken.
That’s mercy. It wasn’t just sparing someone from failure; it was offering a chance to succeed. God is continually merciful to us. He spares us from the consequences of our sins and offers us new life in Him.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
We approach Him confidently because He is generous, and we know it.
God provides everything we need to live and thrive
He gives us breath
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
We would not be here, not alive, without the generosity of God. The message noted that the average person at rest takes about 16 breaths a minute. That’s about 23,040 breaths a day and more than 8 million a year. Someone who lives to 80 takes about 672 million breaths. Now multiply that by 8 billion people. God has huge lungs!
He gives us His time and wisdom
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5)
That verse is from the NLT. If you run to God for wisdom, He won’t say, “Get away, I’m busy, you’re not important enough.”
He gives us the resources we need
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
That verse is from the English Standard Version (ESV). Ever drive by a giant distribution warehouse and wonder how much is inside? Imagine God’s storehouses. They are so big we couldn’t take them in, the way you can stand in Florida and still not see Florida.
He gives us power
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)
That verse is also from the NLT. Even the desire to please God is a gift from Him.
What this means for you
You don’t have to earn God’s favor. Receive His love, forgiveness and provision with a grateful heart. Then reflect it: show others the same grace and mercy He has shown you, and forgive as you have been forgiven. And approach Him boldly, trusting that He is eager to hear your prayers and meet your needs.
How God’s generosity transforms our lives
When we practice generosity, we are living like God’s children. It also deepens our appreciation for what Jesus has done for us and reminds us of His promises. At illuminate church, we help people find abundant life in Jesus, and that abundant life comes from a life given away.
Generosity feels so good and so right because it is the DNA of the Father, who is good and right. When we give our lives away, we look like our Father, and the world gets to see His goodness and kindness and love.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
If you want to take hold of the life that is truly life, store up treasure in heaven. The generous life produces the abundant life. Let us be generous like Him so the world can know Him.
Read more about tithing, generosity and the one investment that lasts forever. You might also like the secret to fulfillment. You can read all of Psalm 103 on Bible Gateway.
Wherever you are today, there is a next step. If you want to know more about who Jesus is, start here. If you need someone to pray with you, reach out to our prayer and care team. And if you live near Kissimmee, Florida, we would love to see you on a Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions About God’s Generosity
What does the Bible say about God’s generosity?
Romans 8:32 says God “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all,” and asks, “how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” James 1:5 (NLT) even calls Him “our generous God.”
What is the difference between grace and mercy?
Grace is receiving a blessing or benefit you haven’t earned. Mercy is being spared from punishment or discipline you do deserve. God continually gives us both.
How is God generous to us every day?
He gives us the breath we need to live (Genesis 2:7), wisdom when we ask (James 1:5), the resources we need (Philippians 4:19) and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13).
How should we respond to God’s generosity?
Receive it with a grateful heart, reflect it by being generous and forgiving toward others, and approach God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Generosity is how we look like our Father.
