Spirit of generosity in the midst of scarcity

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:32-34.

I'm not one to celebrate Halloween but there is a lesson I have gleaned from the holiday that gives those who participate the opportunity to create a great sugar rush.  The sudden influx of candy into a home, and children’s posture of generosity that surrounds it. Specifically, how quick kids were to share their “haul” of goods, especially when it was piled in front of them like a small mountain of sugar. Why sweat one or two pieces when hundreds remained? Yet if we were to find the same kids on a “normal” day with little to no sweets in sight, you’d likely encounter a very different spirit of generosity. 

Now, before I’m too hard on the kids, I should be quick to realize this is not a uniquely childish problem, for in truth, it is a window into every human heart. It’s remarkably easy to be generous when our resources have no end in sight. This kind of giving, while certainly a gift to the recipient and not to be discouraged, fails to truly transform our passions and desires: it touches our wallets while leaving our hearts unchanged.

Fear has an incredible impact on our ability to live generous lives. Specifically, fear of not having enough and being unable to provide for ourselves or those we love. When we allow the threat of scarcity to overtake our hearts and minds, it turns us inward toward ourselves and away from God and neighbor. Yet when we give, especially when it’s hard and we aren’t in a season of abundance, we learn to trust, not simply in our own ability to balance the books and cover all of our needs, but to place ourselves firmly in the hands of the one who promises that he will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Giving out of our scarcity is a bold declaration of faith. It is a way to say that our primary allegiance and loyalty rests not in the material possessions of this world but in the values of God’s Kingdom. We learn through sacrifice to treasure what is truly worthy of our affection, setting us free from fear and worry and instead resting secure in a heavenly treasure “that will never fail” (Luke 12:33).