GENEROSITY & PURPOSE | THEY MAY BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
Generosity.
A term that seems simple and basic but in my experience one of the most powerful tools we have as humans to make a difference on this earth.
Generosity is something I don't think we talk much about, and it’s a part of my personal mission this year to dive deeper and learn more about it.
So let's dive in and see how this connects to our purpose.
Generosity truly sets us free
And some of you are like, “JOEY, how could it set us free! It's a simple concept"
...kind of.
Many of you know, I work in the non-profit space, and deal with this generosity thing quit a bit.
Something I have noticed with the people who give generously is they are completely joyful. They carry themselves differently and seem to have a purpose to change the world. They don't hold their time or their finances with a tight grip, rather they give it away so the world can be different. They are light, and hopeful. They carry themselves differently than most, and are willing to do radical things to make radical changes in the world.
I think there is a lot we can learn from people that are generous, and a lifestyle we can all adopt.
Isn't that the lifestyle we all want?
Don't we we want to live with hope, purpose, and meaning?
Well I believe at the center of every purpose statement is some form of generosity. Every real, God-given purpose is about GIVING, never RECEIVING.
I've taken a few groups through exercises in discovering their calling from God.
And here is what most of them sound like
"I want to help the poor and needy in the community"
"I want to serve cross-culturally, and be in missions"
"I want to use my gift of music to inspire others to their potential"
"I want to build businesses that serve customers with life-changing products"
"I want to train others so they live to their top shape"
Listen to how these were written.
Notice, none of them sound like...
"I want to save a bunch of money 💰 so I can die with it"
"I want to destroy other companies so mine will win"
"I want to keep my time for myself, so I can spend time on me, and then spend more time on me"
But somewhere we get lost from the purity of our purpose, to the worldly "Purposes" that were listed above.
I believe most of us want the first list, but the second list is more of a reality than we want to admit.
TRUTH #1: Accumulating THINGS is never worth it
As we all get older, we start to really enjoy ACCUMULATING the things in life. We want bigger bank accounts, we want better cars, better houses, better jobs.
And maybe we get them.
But they never satisfy us as much as we think they will.
There is still a gap in our calling.
Our society has sold us this LIE that we are made to GATHER things.
Can I tell you the truth,
Businesses aren't built to make money, they are made to provide value to the community in some way, and the ones that do typically win.
Churches aren't made for buildings and cool logos, but for winning people to God, and developing them further.
Non-profits don't exist to pay the bills, but to solve problems in the community.
But why do we fall into the lie that ACCUMULATION = PURPOSE?
Because it feels good for a time.
It feeds a little bit of our selfish desire, and helps security and comfort.
But as we know, we weren't made for safety and comfort. We were made to change the world which is the uncomfortable lifestyle of giving regardless.
TRUTH #2: GENEROSITY REMINDS US WHY WE ARE ALL HERE
Check out this verse from Matthew 6:19
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus is teaching an incredible lesson here that many of us miss.
Notice what Jesus says in this text "Where moths and vermin destroy."
If I can go deep for a second, can we all be honest.
None of the things we buy or hoard for ourselves will be forever.
And don't get me wrong, I love my things.
I love this laptop I'm writing this article with. I love my wife's car (Not mine, I get the junker lol) I love my phones, and the apps on it. And all of those things are a GOOD THING.
But they don't satisfy purpose.
The only thing that can satisfy purpose is realizing that we belong to God, and that we are made to give to other PEOPLE.
If you have spent time at funerals your life quickly gets brought into perspective. No one talks about the things you had, or the cars you owned, or the followers you accumulated.
The legacy you leave behind is in the ways you served people. It's in the the ways you made them FEEL and the way they felt closer to God because of you.
Here is the bottom line,
TRUTH #3: WE WERE MADE TO GIVE
It’s when we give our time, finances, love, joy, resources, connections we feel closest to God and our calling because we were DESIGNED FOR IT.
When we are generous to others, we model the generosity that God has shown us by creating us.
Giving is in our DNA because we were created by a generous God.
Don't fall in the selfish trap our culture sells, it's never worth it.
THE ROI OF SELFISHNESS IS MISERY
So to whom will you be generous to this week?
Who will you give to?
Maybe it's donating to a cause.
Maybe it's giving your time to your church.
I don't know what it is, but I do know when you decide to do it you will activate your purpose like never before.
Give it away, and feel the freedom of generosity and purpose!