SUNDAYS WITH JOYCE

WORD FOR TODAY

GENEROSITY
1. All goes well for the generous Psalms 112:5 A good man shwoeth favor, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
2. Christ sets example 2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty
might be rich.
3. Generous man is happy Proverbs 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
4. Give generously to others in need
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him
labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have
to give to them that needeth.
5. Godly give generous loans Psalms 37:36 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed
6. Blessings of generosity Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble









Giving Without Expectations


Since
giving and receiving are so intimately intertwined in our lives, we
often expect that we can attract abundance by simply conducting
ourselves in an openhanded fashion. Yet we find ourselves wallowing in
disappointment when our ample generosity is not met with the expected
results.

The answer to this quandary lies in the expectations
that, in part, initially prompted us to give. Though our intention is
likely pure, we can unintentionally mar the beautiful experience of
giving by focusing on what we will eventually receive in return. When
we let go of the notion that we deserve to receive gifts based on
giving gifts, bounty can once again flow freely in and out of our lives.


When
the gifts you give are laden down with expectations, they cease to be
gifts and become units of exchange that you are, in effect, trading for
some reward. Thus, the reciprocal laws of the universe err on the side
of the giver who shares for the sake of sharing.

You may have
seen this simple truth at work in your own experience, perhaps when
life's busyness prevented you from spending too much time contemplating
the results your charitable actions would ultimately have on the lives
of others. It was likely then that you received the greatest gifts in
return for your kindness. If you have trouble divesting yourself of
your expectations, you may need to reflect upon the root of your
inability to act in the true spirit of giving.

Each time you
make a gift, whether spiritual or tangible, ask yourself if there is
something you hope to receive in return. You may be surprised to
discover that you expect to be repaid with an easy life, financial
windfalls, or opportunities.


To
integrate this most selfless form of generosity into your life, you
will have to let go of your need to be in control. Accepting that while
like inevitably attracts like, it typically does so on an unobservable
timetable. This can help you stop weighing the gifts you give against
those you have received.

Giving eventually becomes a profound
joy that stands alone, separate from any and all conditions, and you
will learn to appreciate the flow of reciprocal abundance as a gift in
and of itself.