Entering Into God’s Presence
Knowing God Through His Nature & Character (ADJECTIVES)

God is Generous (A Moral Attribute of God’s Nature)

To Study and Ponder

• “Generous” ... what does it mean?

  • -  Some of the Old Testament Hebrew words used are nâḏîyḇ to do with liberality, nobility; and ḥânan

    - to be gracious, show favour.

  • -  Greek word used in the New Testament speaks of generosity as copious bestowal:—bountifulness,

    liberality, not self-seeking.

  • -  The Online Dictionary defines generosity as “showing a readiness to give more of something, as

    money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected”, and has an amazing list of synonyms:- liberal, lavish, magnanimous, munificent, giving, openhanded, free-handed, bountiful, unselfish, ungrudging, free, indulgent, prodigal; bounteous ..

• Generosity is an attribute of love. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son ...” (John 3:16a)

  - O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Psa 86:5 - “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion,

  and sin. Exodus 34:6-7a
  - How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come

  to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:19

• Generosity is expressed through God’s graciousness. – In spite of our many failings, He delights in us, and gives us far more than we deserve. (Wiley, “God is Gracious”)

  • -  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved.) Eph 2:4

  • -  From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17

• The generosity of God is seen in the abundance he gives:-

  • -  The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you

    with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. Deu 28:11

  • -  You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land. Psalm 68:9

  • -  SpeakingoftherestorationofIsrael,IsaiahprophesiesThewastelandwillrejoiceandblossomwithspring

    crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy. Isaiah 35:1-2

  • -  I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant

    peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them. Isaiah 57:18-19

  • -  Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:24

  • -  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more

    and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. Romans 5:20

• God’s provision is an area in which his heart for generous abundance is expressed. Abundant provision (= blessing from God), is linked with obedience in the OT (Deu 28)

  • -  He provided abundantly for the people of Egypt & surrounding nations - grain during 7 years famine. Joseph willingly shared w. brothers & others Ge.42:1-38, 43:1-34, 44:1-34

  • -  Elihu speaks to Job the greatness of God in His creation of the water cycle (Job 36:26-29), finishing with By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance. v.31

  • -  The psalmist sings of it! -You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges.You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:10-11

    - Jesus abundantly provided for host at Cana wedding. Father provides for those in need both naturally and supernaturally

    - Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1Tim 6:17 - And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in

    Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible)
    - in the Jerusalem of the future: The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they

will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them Jeremiah 33:9b

• Generosity expressed through God’s hospitality. He invites and welcomes us into a story and family with Him here on earth, then in heaven eternally. Jesus says “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)

- God’s heart of generous hospitality is evident when he makes sure the poor & foreigners are taken care of. (Lev.19:10, 23:22, Deut.15:7, Psalm 113:7-8, Proverbs 22:9, Isaiah 58:6-7)

- God wants us to reflect his heart of hospitality:- When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 (Heb.13:2)

• God is pleased when His people show generosity:-
- The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. Psalm 37:21
- Those with generous hearts were asked to bring a contribution to the Lord for the construction of

tabernacle. (Exodus 35:5-9).
- Many proverbs speak of generosity: Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

Proverbs 22:9. (Also ch.11:25; 14:21,31; 19:6,17; 28:8)
- Isaiah prophesies of judgement coming for those who take advantage of the poor, but says generous

people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. ch. 32:8
- the lives of the early believers were marked by generosity. They are being tested by many troubles, and

they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

1Corinthians 8:2 (Acts 2:46; 2 Cor.8:2,20; 9:10,13)
- Paul urges Timothy to “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their

money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” 1 Timothy 6:17-18 (= storing up treasure for the future)

- Paul encourages generous giving to believers in need - Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Co 9:6-8

- generosity is a natural outflow from seeing all God has done for us:- I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6

Memory/Meditation
Lower Grades: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious

riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

Middle Grades:

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:7b-8 (NLT)

Upper Grades:

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. Psalm 112:4,9 (NLT) (Quoted in 2 Cor.9:9)