There’s an ad on a local TV station that promotes “Mr Generous”. A man is standing in front of an elevator letting everyone go before him into the elevator. A grateful woman recognizes the man and exclaims, “Mr Generous!” The man just smiles. The ad ends with a web address, you guessed it, mrgenerous.com. Okay, we were curious. It turns out the man, Mr Generous, is a used car dealer who apparently gives “generous” allowances for your trade-in and a “generous” discount on used vehicles.
It got us to thinking about generosity in the Bible. God is the most generous of all. He gave his Son, his only Son, to die on the Cross for our salvation. God’s generosity knows no bounds, where sin abounded, grace much more abounded. “God is generous with his grace“ is the biggest understatement ever!
God So Loved the World
“God so loved the world that he gave …” God wants us to give love also but with a cheerful heart, not feeling coerced or begrudgingly. We are sometimes reluctant to give love to our spouse thinking we should be loved first and then we might, if the conditions are right and we’re in the mood, be generous.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV)
Paul of course is talking of giving our money to those in the Body who need our help. The principle is universal though; that is, if we are stingy, tightfisted givers, or generous, cheerful givers we will receive in kind.
The principle applies to our generosity with our spouse. In 1 Corinthians 7:5a, Paul says, “Don’t deprive one another” or the positive way to say this, “Be generous in your love for one another”. If you sow your love sparingly with your spouse then don’t be surprised if you also reap sparingly.
Christmas is a season of generosity. We spend fretful hours finding the perfect gift for our spouses trying hard to please them. This is a good thing but don’t forget to be generous with your love too. Paradoxically, this is a season many of us put aside our love for our spouse because we are so busy showing love to everyone else.
Christmas is a season to give but don’t forget the best gifts are free!
Blessings, René & Gloria
God's Foundation for a Healthy Marriage 
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