Be generous

     Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
       when it is in your power to act.
     Do not say to your neighbor,
       “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—
       when you now have it with you.
        ~ Proverbs 3:27-28


Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18). Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Mt 7:12). The Golden Rule. I’ve been taught this since I was young. So many people have. But do we really live it out in our lives?
I feel like a lot of people these days are just out for themselves. They don’t want to do something if they can’t see any extrinsic value. They’re loathe to make a sacrifice for someone else, especially if doing so means the other person gets the upper hand.
Do we need to go around giving away everything? Not necessarily, but have a little love, have some compassion. Not everything has to make your life better. Helping someone has intrinsic value. If you have a heart of love, taking the intrinsic over the extrinsic really isn’t a sacrifice.
This isn’t just about giving stuff to people. It’s about love (1 Cor 13:3-7). It’s the lady who pays for the person in line behind her at Starbucks. It’s the man who holds the door open for a woman. It’s the person who stops to help someone change a flat tire. Sometimes it’s called chivalry or common courtesy or being a lady or gentleman. God calls it love.
Be generous (more than simply “don’t be stingy”). Help out a brother. Spot your friend some cash. Give someone a ride. Don’t miss an opportunity to give something to someone, even if that means you do without it. Who cares if you’ll never be repaid, reimbursed, or recognized (Lk 6:35)? Go out and help somebody.
What can you do today to bless someone and show them love?

Read further:
Proverbs 3:27-28; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 13:3-7; Luke 6:35