The most famous verse says, “For God so loved the world he gave …” He gave himself, the best he had, for our good. Our hearts were born selfish and self-centered. To transform our brains, we choose to give, especially when it costs us something. We then break our selfishness, fear, and poverty thinking. Generosity changes our thinking. Instead of holding onto what we have, we trust God to be our true provider. And the more we see him do so, show up miraculously in provision, the more our minds are transformed. Acts 20:35 says, 

“It is more blessed to give than receive.” 

It seems counterintuitive, especially to our own way of thinking. How can giving away give us more? When we give sacrificially, we enter God’s kingdom, which works differently than this fallen world. In God’s heaven, giving leads to gain. Perhaps not materially rich, but wealthy in peace, joy, and freedom from the ties of this world. 

God’s giving of his Son had a goal—the good of others. To shift our thinking, it must be the same with us. Sacrificial generosity shifts our focus from ourselves to the eternal good of others. We align with God’s heart for the poor, the hurting, and the marginalized. Generosity is an attitude of the heart and goes beyond money to time, attention, and love. And it will cost us something. But we then rely upon God, who promises to reward us many times over whatever we give in his name. 

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