Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (Luke 6:30-31)
Could you imagine if every person who claimed to be a follower of Jesus lived these verses? What if every believer was willing to give to everyone in need? Jesus’ command in Luke 6:30-31 wasn’t an “every once in a while” idea but a persistent ideal. That meant that Jesus asked us to develop a habit of continual generosity.
Generosity can change lives. It’s not meant to enable people to stay in lack but to remind them that God is faithful. When we give, we should point to the One who meets every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Giving, empowered by the mind of Christ and led by the Spirit, provides support in ways that will empower and uplift people to move forward in life.
Jesus wasn’t calling us to use our finances, time, and energy to provide a temporary fix for others but rather to facilitate a possible life change that allows them to be a blessing to others. Sometimes, saying “no” to a request or providing support differently may be the most loving and wise response to someone else's needs. If people begin to look at us as their “Jehovah Jireh,” our continual financial assistance won’t help them in the long run. We want our giving to truly benefit the recipient and honor God’s intentions.
Thoughtful generosity is seeing someone’s trouble and praying about how God could use you to help them move forward, not simply giving something to someone who displays need. God will use your generosity to change others' lives when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, not the pressure of an immediate need.
Practical Application
Before you give to someone who tells you about a need in their life, pray and be led about how you can help them. Sometimes, providing guidance, education, or opportunities can be more of a blessing than a handout.