The Myth of Generosity

In the business world, entrepreneurs constantly teach people to be generous BECAUSE that’s the way to increase sales.

Mantras like “give, give, give, give, give, and once you’ve given 15 times, then ask and people will feel so blessed by your generosity that they will be generous toward you and buy your product or write a positive review about it.”

Not a few Christian teachers have passed this same idea on.

There is a problem, however.

Beyond the selfish motive that’s often involved (giving in order to get), the problem is that very few people – I’m speaking of Christians and Christian leaders – reciprocate when someone is generous to them.

Many (if not most) Christians and Christian leaders are takers. They have Ph.Ds in taking, but earn an F in giving back.

I won’t rehearse examples, for there are so many.

What’s even more disturbing about this is that generosity and reciprocation is better understood and practiced by non-Christians.

Recently, I was listening to a well-known secular podcaster (we’ll call him George) who interviewed another well-known personality (we’ll call him Tom) earlier this year on his show.

A month later, Tom reciprocated and had George on his show. This sort of mutual generosity is very common among non-believers.

You’d think it would be common among Christian leaders, who should be leading the way in generosity and reciprocation, but it’s not.

In fact, this kind of mutual blessing is exotically rare among Christian leaders today (I previously wrote about why here).

What’s my point?

The point is NOT to stop being generous.

The point is to learn how to LOSE and do it without becoming bitter.

That’s right.

LOSE. And LOSE again.

Those who have joined the Insurgence understand that when Jesus talked about “losing your life,” He wasn’t restricting that statement to physical death.

He was talking about living a lifestyle of losing, laying your life down, letting go, surrendering, and bearing the cross in daily life (= dying to self).

God will honor your generosity. But it will rarely come through the actions of those to whom you’ve been generous.

We have a generous God living in us. So be generous – especially toward those who are unable to reciprocate.

And always be armed with an attitude of losing.

This is one of the basic features of life in the kingdom of God. And it’s a key mark of the Insurgence.