Generosity isn’t a duty or obligation. It’s just what Jesus people do.
Jesus talks about almsgiving—giving money or goods to the poor. As I think about generosity, I am especially drawn to practices of early church communities. For them, sharing was a core practice—not just in reaction to specific needs, but as a habit. It was a natural, faithful use of resources, like offering the “first fruits” of their produce (2 Cor 8:13–14; 1 Cor 16:2; Did. 13:1–7). They were not unique in almsgiving: synagogues and associations also did so to assist community members, often with clearer protocols. For early church communities, it was often less structured and more organic. It was simply part of practicing community in Jesus’s name.
Jesus-followers shared not just with insiders, but also with those outside their communities. They shared especially with widows, orphans, those in prison, and traveling guests. Justin Martyr describes the kinds of people with whom his community shared in the second century: “orphans and widows, and those who through sickness or any other cause are in need, and those in prison, and strangers sojourning among us—in a word, all those who are in need” (1 Apol. 67).
Acts offers a classic portrait of generosity by some church communities: “All those who believed were united, and they held all things in common. They would sell possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, just as each had need (2:44–45). Though perhaps exaggerated, the portrait shows convictions and aspirations—if not actual practices—of churches across the early centuries. Sharing was a core spiritual practice, grounded in the Way of Jesus (2 Cor 8:8–15).
These examples make me think of generosity less as a practice, and more as a way of life. It’s just what early Christians did. It’s who they were.
Of course, generosity isn’t just about money. Some of the most generous people I know are so with their time, energy, and skills—as well as resources. They are little old church ladies who outpace church staff in devoted time. They are justice-seekers who invest countless hours to rally stodgy churches around local issues. They are the people who quietly respond to church community needs and pleas—without any public recognition of their gifts. They are people who inspire us because they reflect the generosity of Jesus—without necessarily trying to.
One of the greatest gifts I’ve received is a guitar. A friend simply gave it to me. It blew me away. Even more, every time I play it, I think about the music I play as a gift—and ask how I might make it a gift to others.
Lent is traditionally a season of “giving up.” Maybe a better approach would be “giving to others.” What if Lent were to be known less as a season of self-denial and more as a season of generosity?
Generosity isn’t a duty or obligation. It’s just what Jesus people do.
Rev. Troy Troftgruben, PhD
Associate Professor of New Testament
Wartburg Theological Seminary