The Connection Between Gratitude & Generosity
Written by: Christina Maurice (Creative & Communications Manager, New Life Solutions)
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE IS A VITAL ASPECT OF GENEROSITY
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ‘GIVE THANKS?’
In the Bible, the Greek word for “thanksgiving” or “giving thanks” is eucharisteo (you may be familiar with the term Eucharist, referring to Communion), and this word appears 38 times throughout the New Testament. This word contains the Greek word charis, which means “grace”, and is derived from the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” At that Last Supper table, Jesus gave thanks even while foreshadowing his death and sacrifice, which became the greatest gift the world has ever known (John 3:16). What does Jesus’ example of thankfulness and sacrificial giving mean for us?
An Attitude of Gratitude
Our gratitude, or thanksgiving, begins with our response to God’s goodness and grace. Because the very root of the word encompasses ‘grace,’ it is important to acknowledge the grace we have received from God (and continue to receive) if we are to truly understand what it means to be thankful. All that we have is thanks to God, including our reconciliation to God through the work of Christ Jesus.
Ideally, gratitude prepares the way for us to give sacrificially and generously, as cheerful givers who sow and reap bountifully:
“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.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV
What it Means to Be Generous
Generosity is a virtue that has broad cultural implications, and is displayed in various forms, including charity and hospitality. You may be generous with your money, resources, and/or time. Some may be limited in their giving because of their lack of one or all mentioned here, but the concept of generosity is with respect to the resources available, which enables even the poor to be generous. We can look to the example of the widow’s mite in Mark 12, where Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had – all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44 CSB). She gave out of the gratefulness in her heart to God, so we too, no matter what season of life or circumstance we find ourselves, can approach opportunities to give in the same way.
Showing Love through Giving
When you give from a place of gratitude, your selfish ambitions are replaced by the needs of others. The grace you have received, of which you are thankful, is extended to the recipient. You give, because you desire to show the same love and compassion you were once shown, not because you expect something in return. Generosity and gratitude intersect here, resulting in a beautiful demonstration of brotherly love and affection.
Jesus gave thanks to God the Father before giving up His life on the cross. It was the greatest act of love. Therefore, it is possible for us to give thanks to God as we prepare to give to others, whether out of surplus or lack. It is by His grace that we can give what has been given to us, and by exceling in acts of grace like what was described in 2 Corinthians 8, we prove that our love is genuine.
“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.” – 2 Corinthians 8:8 ESV
For information on how to connect your gratitude to generosity by giving to New Life Solutions’ family of ministries, please visit https://newlifesolutions.org/donate
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Sources:
Pursuit Bible, David Kim, In All Things Give Thanks: Biblical Meaning & Power of Thanksgiving, https://pursuitbible.com/in-all-things-give-thanks/
Online Etymology Dictionary, Eucharist, https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=eucharisteo&source=ds_search
Bible Study Tools, “NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon”, Eucharisteo, https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/eucharisteo.html
The Sparrow’s Nest, Eucharisteo, https://www.thesparrowsneststl.org/thankfulness/eucharisteo/
University of Notre Dame, “Science of Generosity”, What is Generosity? https://generosityresearch.nd.edu/more-about-the-initiative/what-is-generosity/