Do you know about the Generosity Advantage? This advantage is a God-sized life that is full of vision for purposes of doing the work of the Kingdom of God and seeing it come to earth. It’s easy to default to people who just seem gifted at all they do as winners, but we are all born to win. We are created in the image of God, with His DNA, and we have a destiny of greatness and victory. God promises that He works everything together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His name. With an attitude of gratitude, we are triumphant and victorious, no matter where we are in life.
I’m a winner but I didn’t know it. I grew up in lack and planned not to live that way as an adult but, as a young married adult, I found myself there. I was broke, busted and disgusted, in $100,000 in debt and no money in my bank account, on government assistance. My philosophy was thatI money was for personal gain and wealth. I brought it in and then pushed it out in a consumerist life with no savings or generosity. When I finally asked God what I needed to do, He led me to get into the Word. He impressed upon me that He never created me to live like that and I heard Him tell me I wasn’t doing things His way, that I needed to change the way I think and be more like Him. I needed to understand why God put me on this earth.
So what does a life of winning look like? Finances follow vision and money is a tool used for Kingdom purposes. To that end, I challenge you to live an outrageous life of generosity. Generous people live open handed, are bold in their generosity and are devoted to people and purpose. A generous lifestyle is one of giving and not borrowing. A generous life is intentional and irresistible. Generous people have a perspective that life is for them, not against them, and that it is working in their favor. Life is tough, but don’t base your decisions on emotions or circumstances. People who get stuck in emotions and feelings will always head toward destruction. Live a life of collaboration with God, not competition with the world and your feelings will follow. Be open to whatever God has for you.
Proverbs 11:24 says “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Do you want your life to get bigger? Here’s the principle. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. When was the last time you made something happen for someone else? When we’re serving people, we’re serving God. When we give to others, we’re giving to God. What He cares most about is people. He is Master and what He tells you to give, give it. If you live in obedience this way, you won’t lose in this life. You will win over and over and over.
Proverbs 4:5-8 says to get Wisdom and to get Understanding. Embrace Wisdom though it cost all you have. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us He came to give life more abundantly. When I was broke, I was self-centered, and my financial plans reflected that. Of course, we do need to save and budget. But take a step back and ask God His purpose. I needed wisdom in life and in my money management. When we work, we work unto God. When we give, we give unto God. He created the heavens and earth and He had you in mind when He did it. He gave His son for you. He gave you all He had and continues giving. Learning to live a generous life is us becoming more like God.
Proverbs 28:19 teaches “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” I was always jumping from deal to deal, chasing what was considered to be the dream. I needed to do what God created me to do. Chasing the things of this life will result in loss. Chase your purpose for the Kingdom. Grow and develop in your life with God. Put Him first, obey what He tells you to do and He will bring you what He wants to give you. This principle has nothing to do with what you’re making in salary or profit and this is not about whether your giving fits in the budget. Make plans but submit them to God and be obedient in what He tells you to do.
How are you gifted? What is the land God has set you in? Isaac in Genesis 26:1, 12-13 planted crops in the land plagued by famine and became wealthy. This is a wealth principle. Generosity is seed sowing and irrational generosity doesn’t make sense. Do what God says to do. Don’t base your giving on your current circumstance. Let God work that out. Be faithful to your commitments and in your giving and watch what God will do. When you give your life away you will find it.
Determine in your heart what you will give. Go all in with God and see His miracles. When I started on this journey, I had nothing to give. But the Holy Spirit challenged me, “What do you have in your hands, in your house?” You can’t give what you do not have. But you can give everything you have. This freed me. My wife and I began to give irrationally, way beyond any 10% tithe, as high as 64% plus, and we have watched God bring the increase in our house. It is irrational. I remember having a few dollars in my pocket for gas and God told me to give it to the person I was standing next to in church. At another time, I had fifteen thousand saved for purposes of paying off one of our loans and He asked me to give it all. If He is who He says He is, He will do what He says He will do. I know as I take care of God's house, He will take care of mine. I have committed to God, “If you want it you can have it.” Does that make you mad? Does it scare you? Let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Everything you have is from Him and you have nothing without Him, right down to the brains in your head. When the King speaks, say “Yes Master. You are in charge.” Trust Him.
Today, I am in a better position than ever before. Will you go on this journey with me and be irrational in this lifestyle of giving? If you do, He will stretch you beyond what you think is possible and you will witness amazing things. God never fails.
