Living generously

I started this post before Father's Day, so I was thinking about how my parents taught me to be generous with time and money.

2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬12 TPT

6 Here's my point. A stingy sower will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. 7 Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity! 8 Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. 9 Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him: Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor, his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten. 10 This generous God who supplies abundant seed for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals, is even more extravagant toward you. First he supplies every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity will grow. 11 You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when we take your gifts to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God. 12 The priestly ministry you are providing through your offering not only supplies what is lacking for God's people, it inspires an outpouring of praises and thanksgiving to God himself.

This morning, I remembered that I had drafted this post and wanted to complete it, and then this verse was in my reading this morning!

Luke 6:38 TPT

Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return.

I am so thankful for what my parents have taught me. I remember a conversation with my dad when I told him that I wanted to give more than a tithe, and he told me that God would bless me for my generous heart.  I am thankful for Jesus's promise that you can't out-give God.  And I am thankful for my dad speaking this truth over me.

Father, you are so generous!  You send rain to the righteous and the unrighteous!  You love to give good gifts to your children!  Jesus, thank you for your example of generosity, even giving your own life.  Holy Spirit, thank you for empowering me and leading me to be generous. Thank you for parents who taught me these principles from childhood. I love you!