The lotteries (Powerball and Mega Millions) have been around for a while.  With mixed sentiments I watch as jackpots reach into the hundreds of millions and occasionally a billion or so and then someone wins.  The people who win the jackpot must then figure out the next steps.  Statistically, some manage this process well while others do not.  If you do a quick AI inquiry, the chatbot has some helpful tips for anyone who finds themselves in these circumstances.  The first thing it says is, do not tell another soul that you have won.  Second, do not spend money you have not yet received.  Instead, immediately follow these steps.  First, contact a lawyer who deals with estate planning.  Second, contact a financial advisor who deals with windfall wealth.  Third, find a great accountant to help you navigate the tax implications.  Once you have done all of this, you claim the prize money and execute a financial and generosity plan.  Hopefully the winner is intentional about being a blessing.

We live in a free society where people can pursue their passions for their own reasons and benefit.  For some people they work diligently to pursue wealth, and many achieve their goal.  The internet says that 8.8% of US adults have a net worth of over one million dollars.  That means between 24 and 24.5 million adults in this country are millionaires.  At the end of 2025 it was reported that 989 US adults were billionaires.  In 2023 it was reported that the combined net worth of everyone in the US was $139.4 trillion dollars with the billionaires holding $8.4 trillion of that number.  And this year we saw one person’s net worth reach one trillion dollars.  That is a lot of wealth that could be spread around if we individually had the vision and willpower to do so.

When you read the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles you can become so inundated with names that you gloss over the two verses about Jabez.  In earlier scriptures, Jabez is a town.  Here it is the name for a man, and this man prays an audacious prayer.  “God, enlarge my territory and be with me keeping me from hurt and harm.”  Here is a Hebrew who was born in pain and is now seeking God’s blessing.  And what was God’s answer to his prayer?  “God granted what he asked.”  Period.  The end.  Next name in the genealogy record.  Now imagine being a Hebrew in exile reflecting on the family tree and you come across Jabez.  Jabez is a story of hope – a sign of God’s generous love that spawns hope, especially for the weary and downtrodden – those in pain.  God has not forgotten them, is not overlooking them, will address the harm and pain they feel, and restore them to the land of their inheritance.  God will once again bless the Hebrews so they can be a blessing.  Their gain will not be for their own benefit but the benefit of the rest of the world and humanity – we believe this is made known in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. 

I am no fan of what is called “the prosperity gospel“ which is a teaching within some Protestant Christian movements, especially Charismatic and Pentecostal traditions, that “faith, positive confession, and generous giving will bring believers health, wealth, and material success in this life.”  It is predicated on the tenet that the more you give the more you will receive in return (even from God.)  I do not believe in a theology that promotes giving so that you get something (even greater) in return.  That is not generosity.  Jesus said, “lend without expecting anything in return.”

I believe in and practice generosity from this perspective.  All that I have is from God, belongs to God, and is owed back to God.  I am blessed with a standard of living that many others in the world can only dream of and as such my faithful response is to be generous.  I do not invest in God’s work seeking to have my circumstances change for the better.  I invest in God’s work seeking for the circumstances of others to be changed for the better.  I believe the church to be the best agent in the world to foster loving change.

A church giving consultant tells the story of visiting with a family about their charitable contributions.  The family was planning on giving a few million dollars to a hospital for specific investments in equipment.  The consultant asked the family if they had ever thought about being that generous with their church and the reply astounded him.  “No.  Our church would not know what to do with that large of a gift.”  Friends – I have some ideas!  Change lives through Neighbor2Neighbor, Baby Grace, Back Snacks, Rainbow Network or maybe even in Peru.  I am confident we could think of many other things that would accomplish the same thing.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Consider what motivates you to be generous.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  What were you taught about the practice of generosity?
• Tuesday:  What family or religious beliefs undergird your practice of generosity?
• Wednesday:  Why do you believe it is important to be generous?
• Thursday:  Do you expect anything in return and if so, why?
• Friday:  What does “blessed to be a blessing” mean to you?
• Saturday:  Do you believe the church knows what to do with your generosity and why?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Examine your motivations for being generous.
• Heart:  Assess the spiritual and physical impacts generosity has upon your life.
• Hand:  Work with your faith community to be a blessing that blesses others.