| Qualities of a Generous Giver |
by
Gordon MacDonald for Generous Giving
|
“Joseph had a dream…” (Genesis 37:5).
Where do generous givers come from? How does God cultivate generous giving in the hearts of his children? There must be a thousand different answers to these questions. Each person is motivated by a different reason.
At the same time, there are some character qualities that are common to most generous givers. The story of Jacob's son Joseph gives us some interesting clues.
- He was a careful steward of his personal resources and skills
- He performed extraordinary services to humanity in the name of God
- He showed bountiful grace toward those who deserved little more than compounded vengeance
As a youth, Joseph was a man of vision. He had a number of vivid dreams--dreams that, perhaps, he ought to have kept to himself. Ah, youth and its impulses! Because the dreams hinted at Joseph’s future leadership role and responsibilities, they enraged his older brothers. As a young man, Joseph was low in the family hierarchy. Still, he took very seriously the idea that he was being called into a high-profile role of leadership. Early on, Joseph knew that one day he'd be the man at the top.
Joseph was also a man of personal integrity and courage. This was another reason his brothers resented him. He never joined them in their questionable conduct; instead, he reported them to his father. It is not clear precisely what the brothers were up to. Perhaps they were siphoning off family business profits, living in ways inconsistent with family morality, or plundering the possessions of others. Whatever the nature of their wrongdoing, Joseph demonstrated himself to be a man of conviction.
Thirdly, Joseph knew what it meant to suffer without growing bitter. In an instant, Joseph went from favored son to faceless slave, a crash that would have destroyed almost anyone. But not Joseph! He had a sense of destiny and personal integrity, and he endured suffering patiently.
These are hallmarks of a generous giver; they are the qualities found in the men and women God is best able to use for His purposes.
© Generous Giving, 2002. Used by permission of Generous Giving. All rights reserved.
Generous Giving is an educational stewardship ministry that seeks to encourage givers of all income levels—as well as ministry leaders, pastors and teachers and professional advisors—to fully understand and embrace what it means to live generously, according to God’s word and Christ’s example. |
