The Bible tells us that as God's people, we ought to be generous. We should be on the lookout for opportunities to be a blessing to others, especially the poor and the needy in our midst. This is a fact.

There are many verses in the Bible that instruct us how to live generously to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11, for example, tells us that when we bless others with what God has blessed us with, we glorify Him:

"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God."

Proverbs 11:24-25 tells us that we receive more blessings when we are generous:

"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself."

Even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself wants us all to be generous to others, especially those who are in need. He said in Luke 12:32-34:

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

With these verses, we understand that as Christians we should be generous. It's part of our identity as God's people: because He is gracious and generous to us, we should be gracious and generous to others too.

Christian generosity

Knowing these verses should stir us up to be a people who would reflect our Father's generosity. He did not withhold even His one and only begotten Son just so that we could have the opportunity to be saved and be reconciled with Him.

Christ Himself is our role model. We are "Christians" if we believe in Him, have repented of our sins and made Him our Lord and Saviour, follow Him, and have His Holy Spirit in us. As Christians, we ought to imitate Him.

While walking on earth during His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus did not withhold what was good from others. He blessed the newlywed couple with the best-tasting wine; He healed the lepers, including a foreigner; He healed many who were ill; He drove away demons from those who were possessed so that they could live free; He blessed us all.

He even shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

His generosity knows no bounds:

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Because of His goodness, we are made rich. Because of Him, we should be generous.