Generosity isn’t just about giving money or things–it is a mindset. Generosity is the opposite of a poverty mindset. A poverty mindset says, “it’s mine and I might not have enough to share” whereas the generous mindset says,”you are important and I want to share what I can with you, however I can.” Of course the preceding could have been written many ways.
Generosity has arms open. Poverty has arms held close with a fear of lack–that giving will somehow detract from what they have. Generosity is far less fearful–or possibly fearful not to share for what would happen then?
In Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 it says:
(New International Version)
Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
(or in The Message Version)
Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.
Charity yields high returns.
2 Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.
Most of the time I love people–strangers and all. They interest me and I can connect fairly readily to all sorts of people. I do talk to strangers. And I often wonder if I have something to give. I am talking at the most basic levels–a smile, a kind word, respect, help, or can I be a bridge to connect people to people, or somehow, in someway, people to God.
The above scriptures talk about risk taking. If you give out of what you have will you lose it all, or will it, like an investment, come back to you?
There are risks at even the most basic levels. A smile or good manners may be misinterpreted or not appreciated.
The generosity that I want to get at here is really an attitude that builds others up and connects them to whatever it is they are needing to connect with.
I bring this up because who we connect with is everything if you ask me. Networking to network or cause financial gain seems rather droll and flat. But when we connect with people without looking for something from them, we naturally “network.”
I heard a story today I would love to share but it isn’t mine to share. Basically being in the right place at the right time and the person took some risks following God’s lead hence connecting people whom the connection blessed.
I love being a connector. It builds people up, businesses up, organizations, and the Kingdom of God. When I work with people (Audacious Consulting & Media) one of my biggest ambitions is to connect people to people and help spot a way for dreams to be realized. This comes naturally and it comes as part of my goal with consulting. But again I would like to remind anyone who will listen, that we can all be bridges for one another. As you do so, you will find–even if it takes a few years that it will come back to you.
Annette Trucke 