“Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon ‘greed’.” – Richard Foster

Nothing speaks more loudly in a person’s life than generosity. When it comes from the heart, true generosity permeates every area of our lives, overflowing in obvious manifestations of benevolence toward others.

Giving has been attributed to the highest level of living.

Generous people have this abiding truth lodged at the core of their being – painted across the canvas hearts. They don’t focus the brunt of their time on what they can get from others but spend their precious time and valuable energy on what they can give to them.

This is the heart of generous people and influential leaders. It’s also the heart of the Gospel; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

Generosity isn’t restricted to monetary giving or charitable contributions, although that is important and perhaps the truest form of defeating personal greed, as Richard Foster admonishes. It may mean spending more time with your family, mentoring an at-risk young person, developing a prospective leader, writing an encouraging note to a co-worker, volunteering more in your community, or sacrificing your own desires for the good of the team.

Sir Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

In his book, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, John Maxwell offers five great ways to cultivate generosity in your life:

1. Be grateful for whatever you have.

2. Put people first.

3. Don’t allow the desire for possessions to control you.

4. See money as a resource.

5. Develop the habit of giving.

In all of your doing today, take some time to think generously about how you can make a LIFE and not merely make a living. Your generosity is helping shape eternity. Don’t take it lightly – violently thrust yourself into generous living!