Gratitude & Generosity
Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts." Andrew Murray
We can so easily get caught up in the daily humdrum and the challenges we face that we forget to be thankful for what God has done in our lives. Being thankful is not a heart matter. We do not need to be swept up in some emotional state to be thankful. Being thankful is a choice. We can choose to be thankful no matter what our circumstances. When we choose thankfulness instead of complaining, feel-good hormones are released in our brains. Studies have shown that when we express thankfulness, dopamine and serotonin are released, triggering feelings of happiness, easing stress and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
This is exactly what Paul says in his letter in Philippians 4:6-7.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to have a spirit of thankfulness no matter the circumstances we face. Thankfulness should be something we instinctively do, especially when we are going through difficult challenges. When we express thankfulness to God, we take the focus off our situation and put it on God, His character and the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. In fact, the Bible commands us to give thanks in all circumstances.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Expressing thankfulness to God should be a part of our daily prayer time and should precede our petitions to Him. When we do this, our circumstances and struggles are brought into perspective, and we are able to reflect on Him, the One from whom all blessings flow. We are able to see our all-powerful God and what He is able to do in our circumstances.
Our thankfulness to God for what He has done in our lives and the blessings He has bestowed upon us should inspire us to be generous toward others. Our generosity might just be the catalyst that brings about transformation in the lives of those we bless.
The story of Brothers Alex and David is an example of how generosity can transform lives. Alex and David lived in an impoverished community. Their parents were so poor that they were unable to pay for their school fees or take care of their daily needs. When an organisation working in their community heard of their situation, they came to their aid. The organisation paid for their school fees, and they were able to finish high school. The organisation not only helped them with their education but also offered Christian discipleship and instilled a values system based on the Word of God that has helped them build a better future. The future for the brothers is now bright. They have been able to set up a chocolate-making business where they incorporate every step of the process into their business - from growing the cocoa beans to manufacturing the chocolate. The organisation that helped them encourages ordinary people to sponsor individual children and play a role in their lives. Without the help of this organisation and the generous donors who gave out of the blessings that God had bestowed upon them, the two brothers’ story would be very different. Because of the generosity and kindness of others Alex and David have been able to fulfil their purpose in life and can now, together with the Lord, dream even bigger.
This is such a wonderful story of what God can do when we express gratitude through generosity. He can radically transform the lives of others when we are willing to allow Him to open up our eyes to see whom we can bless with what He has blessed us. Our generosity may take different forms – blessing a needy family with food, paying a student's tuition fees for a year, paying a struggling family’s rent for a period of time, or donating to a foundation that works in impoverished communities. Being generous doesn’t always have to be in the form of finances. We can also bless others with our time and our resources.
What a different world we would live in if we, as followers of Christ, had a mindset of generosity that stems from God’s love and generous heart towards us.
Proverbs 19:17 says,
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Our reward comes from the Lord, and in His sovereignty, He decides what that will be. But our ultimate reward is knowing Him and knowing that our generosity has eternal value.
Reflection
Will you take time each day to write down what you are grateful for? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to those to whom you can show generosity?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to take the focus off myself and the challenges I face. Help me to always express my gratitude to You no matter my circumstances. Lead me, Holy Spirit and show me to whom I can be generous with the blessings that You have bestowed upon me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
