The Gospel of Godlike Generosity

There is a special feeling that settles in during the holiday season—a warm increase in goodness pressing back against winter’s early darkness. People smile more freely, give more openly, and look beyond themselves a little more easily. But this spirit of generosity was never meant to be a seasonal phenomenon. For disciples of Jesus Christ, generosity is not something to pull out in December and tuck away again in January. It is meant to be the defining rhythm of our lives.

Our God is a God of extravagant generosity. He gives freely, lavishly, and without hesitation, supplying us in “all grace so that [we]...may abound to do every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Because He equips us, we are empowered to bless others, confident that God will provide. As we strive to follow Him, we too are called to give boldly, love freely, and bless others with open hands. This is the essence of discipleship: the joy of giving like the God we serve.

One of Christ’s lesser-known parables illustrates this beautifully. He describes a woman who took leaven and “hid it in three measures of meal” until it leavened the whole lump (Matthew 13:33). Those three measures of meal equate to about fifty pounds of flour, enough to make bread for over one hundred people. This woman wasn’t baking a small loaf for herself; she was preparing a feast for an entire village. Christ’s imagery is intentional: the kingdom of heaven is not about holding back or measuring precisely; it is about giving abundantly and letting goodness overflow.

Sometimes though, we hesitate to give, feeling that we don’t have much to offer: not enough money, not enough talent, not enough influence to make a difference. The Savior understands, and He answered those concerns long before we voiced them. When the disciples faced a crowd of five thousand hungry people, all they could see was what they lacked. They had nothing more than five loaves and two small fishes—barely enough to feed a single family, let alone a multitude. But Christ asked only for what they had. And when they placed their small offering in His hands, He transformed it, feeding the entire crowd with baskets of food left over. It wasn't the size of the gift that mattered, it was the willingness to give it.

I have seen this in my own life. I am a busy college student with very limited time and money. Yet I buy a few gift cards each week to keep in my car and give to those in need. I host monthly dinner parties for anyone who might be hungry for a hot meal or a sense of belonging. I pray daily for opportunities to recognize promptings from the Spirit to serve when they come. These are small offerings, but as I’ve willingly placed my loaves and fishes in the Lord’s hands, I have witnessed Him multiply them again and again. In doing so, I’m reminded that generosity blesses others and is ultimately an act of love for God (Matthew 25:40, Mosiah 2:17).

The Lord has given each of us spiritual gifts: some obvious, some quiet, some unexpected. Scripture teaches, “Every good gift…cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Peter taught, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another” (1 Peter 4:10). Because He is the source of all gifts, we are invited to participate in His work by passing them forward. The economy of heaven runs on grace and abundance, expecting blessings to flow outward.

As I’ve pondered my own spiritual gifts, I’ve begun to recognize those that don’t appear neatly listed in scripture, yet are no less real. The Lord has revealed,“To every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God…that all may be profited thereby” (D&C 46:11-12). Some are abilities: to teach truth by the Spirit, to communicate clearly, and to gather people. Some are ways of being: an optimistic attitude, a grateful heart, and a quickness to forgive. Others are quiet inclinations of the soul: noticing the needs of those around me, listening with empathy, and loving others unconditionally. None of these gifts are dramatic, but all are God-given.

The parable of the talents reminds us that gifts grow when offered. The servants who used what they had saw their talents multiplied; the one who hid his gift lost even the little that he had. Likewise, our spiritual gifts, when shared, expand and bless us as we bless others. Spencer W. Kimball taught, “The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls…indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!" As we give, we find that the Lord is not only multiplying our offerings—He is multiplying us.

Elder James E. Faust declared, “The spirit of the gospel is the spirit of giving.” It is the spirit of Christ Himself. I pray that we will let our giving spill beyond this holiday season. That we will look for the spiritual gifts God has bestowed upon us and offer them freely. That we will trust Christ to multiply what we place in His hands. As promised in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” Truly, when we give abundantly, we receive abundantly. Because in the end, generosity doesn’t just change the lives of those we serve; it changes the heart of the giver and draws us closer to the Giver of every good gift.

Avery Palenske is so grateful! She’s grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow at BYU. She’s grateful for her family and friends and the countless people who love her. She’s grateful for the fall leaves and the crisp autumn air and the early nights curled up cozily in bed with a good book. She’s just grateful for life in general! But most of all, she’s grateful to know her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, and to be able to worship Them weekly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.