As a leader, I want to be more generous. I desire to have a more open hand and a bigger heart. Often I have to repent and do self-examination because of my insensitivity to the poor and under-resourced. There is a struggle that often takes place within me to serve myself rather than to serve others. I can easily resist being moved by the images of those in extreme hunger or the enslaved. After being a Christian for over 30 years, why am I like that?
Becoming a generous leader requires a process that I have found to be counter-intuitive. Generosity requires brokenness creating a servant’s heart that results in generosity.  True biblical generous leadership is a process which begins from a position of having nothing to offer.
God can only use a person to the level at which He has broken them. Generous leaders are scarred. They lead from a platform built by pain and tears. Generous leaders rarely were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. It is when you have lost everything that you realize you are rich in Jesus. He is everything we need and He is more than enough.   Â
When leaders begin to understand what they have in Jesus, they intuitively desire to serve others. It is a privilege to serve and help meet the needs of others.  We live in a hurting world. People are fearful, scared, and deeply concerned. Generous leaders understand that during great calamity comes great opportunity. An opportunity exists to provide hope, perspective, solutions, and yes financial resources to those who seem forgotten.
Our service to others results in authentic biblical generosity. I love to give money to people and great causes. I love how it makes me feel. I love that it gives others options. I love knowing that the impact of my life can be felt by others in a positive way. I love knowing that I have been given a gift to be part of a greater story, a redemptive story that God is telling through my generosity. I love watching children smile who were frowning. I love that the pain I once felt has now been turned into a positive for others. I wish I could give more.Â
Brokenness, Servanthood, and Generosity becomes our identity as Leaders.
You may not realize it but I have lived this process. In 2002, I went through a difficult time as a provider for our family. We were financially in desperate straits and out of options. I was scared, angry, and doubting if God really cared.
God never stopped caring and He did provide. However, the pain of that experience has never left me. It’s as if I lead with a limp.  God performed a surgical procedure on my heart that I feel every day.  And because I feel it, I can easily spot the need in others.
My home church, Fellowship Bible Church, just went through a generosity initiative entitled “Give Till It Helps”. This initiative, which I was privileged to help construct, has enabled 50 families in our church to have hope. Dozens of children we see on a weekly basis will get a Christmas this year because of this initiative. Marriages will be saved. Families, many of who I know, can keep their homes. Single moms can provide for their children and not have to settle for less attractive options. Grown men can have dignity. The love of Jesus and generosity of others has met them at their point of need.
Because of my pain in 2002, God has used my pain to help others avoid pain in 2011-12. Only God could do something like that.
If you are experiencing pain, please know that God has not forgotten you and will one day use that pain to make you an incredible servant who is generous. One thing about storms, no matter how hard the wind blows and the rain comes down, all storms are temporary. They pass. And when your storm passes, I can’t wait to hear how God is going to use what you’re going through.
Leaders, I would love to hear what you have learned about the process of becoming generous.
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