Spontaneous Generosity

Paul is praying for the church in Colossae to know God’s will and do it. He prays for them to have the ability to bear things, and in bearing them to turn them into glory, and he prays for them to have patience with people so that in William Barclay’s words, “their unloveliness will never alter [their] love.” Finally, he prays for joy, giving thanks to God who has transferred us to God’s Kingdom.

In the ancient world, when one empire won a victory over another, what happened? They moved the people who were conquered. They packed them up and moved them out. The Northern Kingdom fell to Assyria, the people were taken to Assyria. The Southern Kingdom fell to Babylon, everyone in Jerusalem and in the rest of the Southern Kingdom was transferred to Babylonia.

Paul writes that God has conquered the world of darkness and slavery and sin, and transferred us to God’s own Kingdom: a Kingdom of unconditional love where all are spontaneously generous.

The truth is that we have a long way to move; our generosity is not spontaneous. Have you ever seen what happens when one crawler approaches another toddler and picks up the toy sitting beside them that they have been ignoring, but which is clearly theirs? A wrestling match ensues, complete with biting and hair pulling. The truth is that we are not spontaneously generous; we have to be taught to share.

Have you seen what happens when two preschool brothers want the same Hot Wheels? “That’s mine!” screams one while the other clutches the car. “Why don’t you offer one of the cars you are playing with, you can trade” wisely advises mom. And the brother holds out the one car that is broken to trade. “No! that’s not fair! I want that car!” responds the other, pointing to the best car his brother has. The truth is that we are not spontaneously generous; we know what is fair, and we have to be forced to be fair.

And yet, as Paul writes to the Colossians, he knows that as they grow in knowledge and understanding they will begin to bear fruit in their lives. The Holy Spirit will begin transforming them and they will think less about themselves and more about others. They will begin to be generous.

But it won’t happen unless we intentionally choose for God to move us. God has conquered darkness, but God won’t impose a forced exodus to God’s Kingdom. We have to want to be transferred. In Mark Nepo’s book “Surviving Has Made Me Crazy” he tells about a town in New England where a church had closed. The farmers of the town told about how sad they were that the church had closed because they missed the ringing of the church bells. Not the ministry of the church, not the worship, not the difference the church made in the community or in people’s lives, not the outreach the church did, not the awareness the church raised about injustice or suffering in the world – they missed the church bells. What if the church, long before it found itself closing, had asked, “What is our fruit?”

The development of generosity is not just a shift in attitude. Our attitudes shift when we are appeased, when our back gets scratched. When you are struggling to get through the grocery store with a child and you promised them that they can pick out a treat at checkout if they will be good while you quickly finish up getting the last few things on the list, you may have shifted their attitude for the rest of the trip, but they have not transformed into people excited about grocery shopping. We may shift our attitude about giving when we think about what we will get, but that does not mean that we have transformed and become generous.

The development of generosity is not the result of more devoted obedience. The Pharisees were devoted to obeying the law. They were so good at religious activity, at following the church rules, at maintaining order in society. They paid their tithes, and made their offerings, but they were not generous.

Kevin Siratt is a pastor in Indiana. He tells about a conversation he had with another pastor about whether generosity is an activity or an intent. He says it is neither. “It goes beyond intent, and it isn’t just an activity. Generosity is character. Intent and activity are necessary. But they are the result of true generosity, not the cause.

A neighbor is in need. Is concern for them generosity without responding to the need? Is responding to the need generosity without concern for them?

Generosity is a character trait. “It is the heart of one who has been so loved that he or she is now characterized by the unconditional love of God. When our hearts have been transformed, [it becomes spontaneous – ]we cannot look at our neighbor’s need and do nothing. We cannot look at our neighbor’s need and feel nothing. We will hurt for the hurting and deliver the cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. We do this because that’s who we are – followers of Christ, who lavishly poured out His love so that we [can] experience a changed life.” And then, “Somewhere along the way, as we see our acts of generosity [bearing fruit], helping others and perhaps even changing the world, [and] we say in wonder and amazement, “Wow,” I am so thankful, so joyful, wow – look at that fruit.” (Adam Hamilton)