The Blessing of Generosity: Why Giving Transforms Us

Let's be honest—talking about generosity can feel uncomfortable. For good reason. Throughout history, too many churches and leaders have manipulated people with guilt, pressure, and false promises. So before we dive into Acts 20, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room: generosity has been abused.

But here's the thing: just because something has been twisted doesn't mean it's not true. And what Paul says in Acts 20—quoting Jesus—is one of the most counterintuitive, life-changing truths in all of Scripture:

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

This Isn't a Transaction—It's Discipleship

Paul isn't trying to manipulate anyone. He's making a claim about reality itself. He's saying, "This is how God's Kingdom works. If you want to experience freedom and joy, it's actually better to give than to receive."

And if we're honest, that doesn't always feel true to us. Receiving feels safer. Accumulating feels wiser. Generosity feels risky.

But our resistance doesn't mean it's false. Sometimes resistance means the truth is pressing against a part of us that needs to change.

Paul's Farewell: What Really Matters

Acts 20 records Paul's final words to the Ephesian elders. He knows he'll never see them again. He knows suffering awaits him in Jerusalem. So what does he choose to emphasize in his last moments with them?

Generosity.

He reminds them how he worked with his own hands to support himself and others. He didn't take advantage of them. He didn't manipulate them for financial gain. Instead, he modeled a life of self-giving love. And then he says:

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Paul isn't offering a motivational slogan. He's pointing to Jesus. Remember how He lived. Remember what He gave for you. Remember how He poured Himself out so that you could be filled.

Generosity isn't rooted in fear or obligation—it's rooted in remembrance of Christ.

Generosity Isn't About an Amount—It's About a Posture

Generosity isn't measured by how much you give. It's measured by the posture of your heart before God.

• We give because Christ first gave to us.
• We share because in Jesus, we have received.
• We live open-handedly because that's how God lives toward us.

When we give generously, we're not funding a mission—we are the mission. We're bearing witness to our generous God.

This Week, Try This

Here are three practical ways to grow in generosity this week:

1. Give something away. Not just money—though that counts. Maybe it's your time, your attention, a meal, a favor, or a word of encouragement. Practice the joy of giving without expecting anything in return.
2. Ask yourself: Where am I holding on too tightly? Is there an area of your life—finances, time, energy—where you're gripping control instead of trusting God? Confess it and ask Him to help you loosen your grip.
3. Thank God for His generosity toward you. Spend a few minutes listing the ways God has been generous to you. Let gratitude shift your perspective from scarcity to abundance.

Living Open-Handedly Together

At Indy Metro, generosity is one of our core values—not because we're trying to guilt anyone, but because we genuinely believe it's better to give than to receive. We've seen it transform lives. We've experienced the freedom and joy that come from living open-handedly.

And we'd love for you to experience it too.

We're not perfect, but we're learning together. If you're looking for a church that takes discipleship seriously—a place where you can grow in generosity, grace, and faithfulness—we'd love to have you with us. Come as you are. Let's figure this out together.

Because here's the truth: when we live generously, we look more like Jesus. And that's the whole point.