2 Chronicles 31

After Hezekiah re-instituted the worship at the Temple, as the people heard the news, they responded in overwhelming generosity. I will list some of the instances that reveal this generosity. They “provided in abundance,” they “brought in abundantly,” and there were “heaps” (verses 6, 7, 8, 9). The testimony of the ministers was that they “had enough to eat with plenty left over.” “This great quantity is left over” (verse 10). The amazing generosity of God’s people forced Hezekiah to provide storehouses for the abundance, so that none of it was wasted. Such generosity was more than matched in the New Testament.

“Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5, NASB)

Another sign of real revival is the generosity of God’s people that wells up to support His cause. I have seen, been around, and benefitted from the liberality of truly generous people. It is amazing to see what God can do as His people give generously. “We cannot out give our God.” Generosity does not depend on the amount we have or the amount we give. It is based on our willingness to give and the extend of our sacrifice. The widow who only had two pennies, nevertheless, gave all that she had. The most amazing thing about generosity is that it blesses the giver as much as the receiver. The greatest gift and greatest giver is named by St. Paul.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NASB)

The attitude is the key. Compulsion, requirement, duty, these are not at the heart of generosity. It is all about willingness.