40acts: The Lent Generosity ChallengeSample

Generosity should cost us. Often our imaginations fail us when it comes to finding ways to be generous at a cost to ourselves. So today, we’re getting our resources ready to move into truly sacrificial generosity – that generosity that’s terrifying, wildly fun, and, if we’re ready to let it be, transformative. At 18 years old I turned to my boyfriend and said, ‘If we want to get married one day, we should probably start saving now.’ I’m not sure what’s more shocking, the fact that I was thinking about marriage at 18 or that he agreed. I love meeting up with my friends for food or coffee, but in that season I had to say no to some invites or suggest more affordable plans. Once we were sure that getting married was what we wanted to do we made it a number one priority, which called for a major shift in our attitude towards our money. When farmers plant a crop they don’t just throw seed and hope for the best. They know how much they will sow and when they will sow it. Whether it’s a wedding, a car, a house or a holiday that we want, the truth is if we sow into our savings we’ll reap the harvest of being able to pay for the things we desire. ______ When you book a holiday, you book more than just flights and an AirBNB; you’re investing in the experience and memories created when being away with family or friends. When we choose to sow into someone’s life, we invest in more than just the physical needs of that moment; we invest into someone’s memories, faith and emotions too. Saving up to be generous might sound ridiculous, but it’s a declaration of what we treasure. If we want to make generosity a lifestyle then properly allocating funds towards it is a sensible and sustainable way to make generosity a part of who we are. Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog: [ https://40acts.org.uk/ act-4-cash-stash / ](https://40acts.org.uk/act-4-cash-stash/)