Habits of Generosity

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Opening Prayer

Generous God, I want to live from the reality that all is truly Yours and everything is from Your hand. Help me to take steps to do so.

Read Deuteronomy 15:1-18

^[1] At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. ^[2] This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. ^[3] You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. ^[4] However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, ^[5] if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. ^[6] For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. ^[7] If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. ^[8] Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. ^[9] Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. ^[10] Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ^[11] There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. ^[12] If any of your people-Hebrew men or women-sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. ^[13] And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. ^[14] Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the LORD your God has blessed you. ^[15] Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. ^[16] But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, ^[17] then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant. ^[18] Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

Meditate

God has a very different design for what an economic system should look like, but it would require forgiveness and openhandedness with possessions.

Think Further

The economy of the Promised Land was to be radically different. Every seventh year, debts were to be cancelled (1-3) and bonded servants set free (12-18). There was no place under God’s rule for chronic poverty. Yes, there would be adverse circumstances that would force some to suffer poverty and borrow in order to cope, but they should not be taken advantage of; rather, they should be given a fresh chance. Their poverty should be a temporary hole in the ground, not a bottomless pit from which there is no escape. “There will always be poor people in the land” (11), but “there need be no poor people among you” (4). The world creates poverty, but the church must do something about it.

What is required is generosity. The people should remember that their wealth is not as important as their needy neighbors. They should “not be hardhearted or tightfisted” (7), refusing to lend to someone who is less fortunate. Neither should they become calculative, refusing to lend at a time near the seventh year, knowing that the loan would soon be cancelled (9). Instead of being heartless, miserly or sharp in business, one should respond to a needy person by giving generously and cheerfully (10; 2 Cor. 9:7). How can one who has received liberally from a gracious God hold a tight fist to his needy neighbor?

This same generous spirit also treats servants and employees graciously. When the bonded servant is freed, he is supplied liberally (13-15). Many rich people started out poor. They should remember their humble origins and feel empathy for those who are poor and needy. We all need to remember that all is from God. As we generously share among the church, may it be said: “There were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:34).

Apply

Take a step that will bring you closer to God’s desired economy. Sponsor a child, begin regular giving for clean water or start ongoing contributions to the poor in your midst.

Closing prayer

Lord, You have been so generous to me. Help me to be generous to those in need by joyfully sharing with them Your resources and by treating them with dignity.

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