Is Generosity a Spiritual Gift or a Calling?
In Romans 12:8, the Greek word Haplotes describes the kind of giving mentioned as “sincere, generous and without pretense or hypocrisy.” This generosity is meant to encourage and provide for the Church, its ministries, missionaries, and all God’s people, giving all credit to the love and provision of the Lord.
But who is this passage, and the many other passages in Scripture that reference generous giving, talking to? Is generosity a spiritual gift designated to a special few, or is it a calling on all of our lives?
Do you want to learn more about how you can make the most of your generous giving? Schedule a consultation today.
The Gift of Giving
If you are a follower of Jesus, then God has made you part of His plan and has gifted you to accomplish the works He put you here to do. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For you are His workmanship, created for good works in Christ Jesus, which God has planned beforehand, that you should walk in them.”
One of the twenty listed spiritual gifts in the New Testament is giving. God has gifted many of you to have a generous spirit, regardless of how much money you have. This gift is not limited to the wealthy. Giving comes in many forms.
The wealthy, however, have a different calling according to Scripture. They should develop this gift of giving because God has stewarded so much to them. Think about this: Deuteronomy 8:17-19 says, “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant… …And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods…” well, the outcome for you is not good!
The truly wealthy have a bigger responsibility, and if you are among them, let us encourage you. Why do you think God gave you the gifts and talents to acquire wealth? For what purpose? Why you? Why has He given you so much?
Who Is The Owner? God is The Owner
We believe it is because He has chosen you to be one of His appointed stewards that He trusts with His resources. Most would agree that all that we have is not ours, but His, and He wants us to be very generous with it to bring change and hope to a hurting world.
The questions for many are, “How can my wealth be given in an impactful way? Who can I trust? Where can my resources be given to have the greatest effect?”
If you are asking yourself these questions, OneAscent Wealth can help. Our financial advisors are intentional in our process to understand your passions and interests and then connect you to local, regional, and worldwide ministries. Contact us here to get in touch with an advisor today!
Don Ankenbrandt is the Director of Stewardship and Strategic Engagement with OneAscent Wealth. To set up a conversation concerning this article, contact us here.