You Can't Out-Give God

The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. (Ps. 37:21-22)

One of the marks of conversion is generosity.  We see this in the early church in Acts 4:32ff. where we are told that no one kept anything for themselves, but all had everything in common.  They all shared with one another all their possessions.  This happens among believers for two reasons.  First, the Holy Spirit creates within believes a desire to carry out the second great commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This, of course, is the result of the indwelling presence of the Holy Sprit as love is the first fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).  But there is a second reason generosity is and should be a defining characteristic of believers.  That is, not only do we realize that everything we have comes from God, but we also realize that someday all that God has will belong to us.  Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.”  Why is the righteous generous?  "For those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,…” (v.22).  Mature believers know and understand that when we give away our money, our resources, and our time, there is more where that came from.  We know this and think this way because we understand that some day we will inherit the entire earth.  Someday all that we see and enjoy around us will be ours for all eternity.  Thus, when it comes to the giving of our finances or possessions or abilities and talents, it has been rightly said that God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others.  God blesses his people not so that we can hoard what God gives us, but so we might use it for his glory.