I’ve noticed how easy it is to imagine that generosity belongs to a future version of ourselves. When I make more money, I’ll give more. When life slows down, I’ll volunteer. When the kids get older, I’ll have more time for people. When I finally feel financially secure, I’ll become the kind of generous person I’ve always wanted to be. The problem is that the finish line keeps moving.
At Nuvo, we value Radical Generosity. We believe openhandedness changes both the person giving and the person receiving. And we intentionally talk about more than money. Generosity includes our time, resources, wisdom, attention, and willingness to use what we have to make a difference. That means generosity isn’t reserved for people who have an abundance of everything.
Start With What’s Already in Your Hands
In Mark 12, Jesus watches people giving at the temple. A widow offers two small coins, and Jesus notices her gift. He isn’t impressed by the size of the number. He recognizes the sacrifice behind it. This isn’t a passage we should use to pressure people into giving beyond their ability or neglecting their responsibilities. It’s a reminder that God sees generosity differently than we often do.
A person with a modest income can be deeply generous. So can someone with very little free time. You might have experience that could help a younger colleague, a spare hour that could encourage someone who’s lonely, or the ability to provide a meal for a family in a difficult season. The question isn’t only, “How much more could I have?” It’s, “What could I do with what I already have?”
Generosity Is a Habit Before It’s an Amount
If you wait until generosity feels effortless, you may wait forever. Giving usually requires choosing to release something you’d otherwise keep. That doesn’t mean every generous act needs to be dramatic. In fact, regular small decisions can reshape your relationship with money and time. You begin to notice needs instead of only opportunities to accumulate more.
For financial giving, start with a realistic plan. Look at your budget, care for your responsibilities, and decide what you can give consistently. For time, choose a commitment you can actually sustain. For encouragement, practice noticing people and speaking life into them. Generosity becomes more meaningful when it is thoughtful and dependable rather than driven entirely by guilt or emotion.
Keep Your Heart in the Right Place
Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 that giving shouldn’t become a performance designed to impress people. That’s important because generosity can quietly turn into another way of measuring our worth. We start comparing what we give or expecting recognition for our sacrifice. But the purpose is love. We give because God has been generous toward us, and because people matter.
I think a generous life is one of the most compelling expressions of following Jesus. It tells the people around us that we believe our resources are tools for doing good, not simply possessions to protect. And you can begin living that way today, without waiting for a raise, a promotion, or a less demanding season.
Putting This Into Practice
1Inventory what you have.
Write down one resource, one skill, and one block of time you could share this month. Think beyond money and be realistic about your responsibilities.
2Choose a repeatable act.
Set a manageable giving amount, schedule a regular opportunity to serve, or commit to helping someone with a skill you possess. Put it on your calendar.
3Give without seeking credit.
Find one way to meet a need quietly this week. Notice what happens in your heart when you give without expecting anything in return.
