Why Are We Generous? With Chris Gabriel

May 27, 2024

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Do you think of yourself as a generous person? Most of us would like to think we are, but do we know why we’re generous?

Jesus told us that it’s better to give than to receive, and Christians are very generous people. Today, we’ll hear from Chris Gabriel about why this is the case and how we can be even more generous.

Chris Gabriel is the author of WISEgenerosity: A Guide To Purposeful and Productive Living and Giving. Chris recently spoke to financial professionals at the 2024 Kingdom Advisors Redeeming Money Conference in Orlando. However, his keen insights on why and how we’re generous apply to all of us.

Embracing Generosity: A Divine Design

There's a simple explanation for why we feel compelled to be generous: God made us this way. All discussions on generosity, whether they start this way or not, eventually lead to God. The conversation becomes more meaningful when you share your own stories about giving, priorities, and purpose. Generosity has a powerful impact, and it's no accident. Jesus, the most generous person who ever lived, exemplifies this mindset.

We often encounter a scarcity mindset—the belief that whatever we have is never enough. This lie hinders our ability to give freely. In contrast, God’s abundant economy views opportunities as limitless, accessed through giving and generosity. This principle is captured in Proverbs 11:24: "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." This reflects God's intention for how we should live.

Fostering generosity has two goals: removing barriers to giving and presenting opportunities to serve God and others. Many struggle with giving because they don’t see themselves as generous. They compare themselves to others and feel inadequate. Addressing this identity issue can help cultivate a generous mindset.

Generosity can be expressed in three ways: kindness, charity, and philanthropy. Kindness, the most common form, makes life meaningful and enjoyable. Charity involves direct, tangible assistance to individuals or groups, while philanthropy focuses on solving broader societal issues. Both are essential and resonate differently with people.

Understanding whether you lean more towards charity or philanthropy can help tailor your giving approach. Charity is often more emotionally connected and immediate, involving direct interaction and visible impact. Philanthropy addresses systemic problems, focusing on larger-scale solutions.

By recognizing and embracing our God-given capacity for generosity, understanding the different expressions of giving, and overcoming identity barriers, we can enhance our ability to serve and positively impact the world. Generosity is not just about money; it's about engaging with others and contributing to a greater purpose. Let's strive to live as God intended, giving generously and embracing the limitless opportunities in His abundant economy.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

Do I need to 1099 the young man I'm hiring to help with my small agricultural operation this summer? I want to have everything set up correctly from a tax perspective when I pay him.
What are the tax implications of cashing out $16,000 in stocks, and do I have to give $50,000 to my church's building fund? Most of the money comes from our savings, but I want to understand if I have any tax liability from cashing out the stocks I should be aware of.
Is there an insurance stock fund that I could invest in to diversify my portfolio? I'd also like your general thoughts on fixed-indexed annuities.

Resources Mentioned:

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