An encouraging, warm–hearted read on the theology of generosity
Every Christian is called to give – of our money, our time, our talents – but how often do we give just because we feel we should? We resent the sacrifice of things we could enjoy ourselves, and the biblical idea of giving cheerfully seems almost impossible. Or we give because we know that it will make us feel good. Or because we want other people to think well of us. But this is not godly giving.
The motivation behind our giving is important. Giving, like everything else in the Christian life, begins with the two greatest commandments – to love the Lord our God with everything we have, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. Our cheerful, outrageous and extravagant generosity begins with unreservedly loving the God who has freely given us all things.
In this concise book, Joel Morris explains that our understanding and practice of generosity is based on our knowledge of God, as well as the condition of our own hearts. While many books explain that we should give, Morris dives into the why of giving.
Christians can afford to be generous because we have been given so much. Generosity overflows from our life in Christ. We are the recipients of amazing grace – we didn’t save ourselves, we simply said yes to the greatest gift.
Although we often think of money when we speak about giving, the theology that Morris lays out so clearly can be applied to many things in our lives. To name but a few, we can be generous in serving, in giving money, time and talent, in hospitality, food, stuff and good works.
The book’s conclusion encourages readers to think through how the theology of generosity applies to their everyday lives. To whom will the generosity of the gospel flow through us? In what ways can we show the heart of God to those we meet?
This is not a long book, but it is packed full of the encouragement we need to become big–hearted givers. Essential reading for every Christian, it will help you to see that rather than giving begrudgingly, we can rejoice in the opportunity we have to give as God gives – joyfully, sacrificially, and lovingly.
Contents
Author
Joel Morris is the Executive Director of Union School of Theology in Bridgend, Wales. He is on the leadership team of Grace Community Church, Porthcawl. He was a missionary with Operation Mobilisation on the Logos 2 ship before starting a doctorate and career in Materials Engineering which took him from Aerospace to the Nuclear sector.
"If we really believed that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), we would not ask, ‘How much do I have to give?’ but, ‘How much can I give?’ In this much–needed book, Joel Morris shows us that a generous heart is the happiest heart, for it aims to imitate and glorify God." - Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
"This is a book that lifts our vision to heaven to see the all–generous God, and then urges us on to respond to this with a radical generosity towards the local church and fuelling gospel work. A must–read for all believers but particularly for those of us who have a tendency to forget that all that we have and enjoy is God’s and not our own." - Simon Pillar, Managing Director, Pacific Equity Partners and Founder, Gospel Patrons movement
"The love of God spills out of the pages of Big Hearted. Joel Morris’ beautiful work will inspire you to ask God to conform you into His image – namely that of a cheerful, sacrificial, generous, loving, and big–hearted giver. Read, apply, and rejoice." - Chuck Bentley, CEO, Crown.org & Author, 7 Gray Swans, Trends That Impact Our Financial Future
Haykin, Michael
