I read the story of a lady who had a long layover between flights. On her way to her next flight she stopped to buy some cookies. The gate and airport were full so she sat down at a table with a man at it and decided to eat her cookies. To her shock, the guy ate one of the cookies. She gave him a stare, but was too afraid to say anything, so she reached in and grabbed a cookie. He smiled and grabbed another one. As they took turns taking cookies, she kept getting more upset until there was one cookie left. He grabbed it, broke it in half, gave her half and ate his. He then left for his flight. She couldn’t believe this guy. When she grabbed her bag to head to her gate, she saw her cookies inside it. This story reminds me of how much we cling to things as small as cookies, yet generosity can surprise us when we let go of greed.
In Genesis 13, Abraham and his nephew Lot had both been blessed by God. The each had so much livestock, that together the land couldn’t support them. As such, their herdsmen began to fight and dispute over land. Out of trust in God and generosity, Abraham said, “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left” (NLT). As the elder, he was entitled to be first, but he gave Lot the choice. Lot chose the best land and Abraham took what was left. He showed that generosity isn’t about how much you have, but how much you’re willing to release and trust to God.
Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Are you stingy with what God has entrusted to you or are you generous with it? Abraham showed us what generosity looks like. What he did positioned him for God’s blessings and away from the selfish that attracted Lot. God bless those who have generous hearts with more. They become a source of refreshment to others. You don’t need to have a lot in order to be generous. You just have to be willing to share even your cookies. What have you been holding onto that God has asked you to bless someone else with? Practice generosity and watch what God does in your life. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 