The Measure of Generosity
The Measure of Generosity
Many years ago, I was listening to a sporting event that was also promoting a telethon. The presenters were commenting on the totals and urging everyone to get behind this worthy cause. Suddenly the commentators overflowed with praise for a well-known mega-rich family who had given a multimillion-dollar gift. They were effusive in their praise. They were gushing. Now it was a large gift, and I am sure that the cause was extremely pleased to get it. But I couldn’t help pondering just how generous it was. Many ordinary church members would give $1,000 to $2,000 to a mission appeal and there would be no fanfare, but in terms of their wealth the proportion might be similar. Now I mean no disrespect to the original family. They may have been giving secretly and generously to many other causes, but it just made me pause to consider what actually is the measure of generosity.
I believe Jesus gives the answer. Luke records, chapter 21:1-4, the famous story of the widow’s mite. That is the title familiar to generations of readers of the King James Bible. Jesus observed some rich people depositing large sums into the temple treasury, whereas a poor widow placed in two mites. The word mite translates the Greek lepta, a small copper coin. For the scientifically minded there is a class of small atomic particles known as leptons to distinguish them from heavier particles. The most familiar lepton is the electron. Jesus was not giving a physics lesson. His point was that the widow’s gift was actually more substantial than that of the rich because while they had given much their wealth was substantial, but the widow gave out of her poverty with nothing over.
I often thought of this incident in my former parish of Figtree. One of my parishioners was a widow living on the pension. She had experienced considerable sadness in her family. However, far from being embittered, she was one of the most servant hearted, faithful, hospitable and generous people I know. She was greatly loved by all who knew her. She founded a Sunday School in the branch church and served on the parish council. In fact, when I proposed that we introduce the pledging system described in my book Giving Generously, (givinggenerously.com/buy-the-book-2/) she was one of the first to support the proposal. She had a heart full of the love of God.
When I wrote the book I included a chapter on teaching Generosity principles. But subsequent to publication I realized I had left one principle out. Since I live in such an affluent society this principle always makes me somewhat uncomfortable as it is areal challenge to be more generous. The principle is that ‘what we have left is the measure of generosity’.