Generosity: Does it Really Matter More Than Safety?

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.” -Leviticus 25:35-37

“Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.” -Hebrews 13:2

What would you say matters more: generosity or safety? I think I tend to lean more toward safety. For example, people are probably going to go through the Matt Kelly screening process before they come into my apartment. This is because I’m concerned about my wife’s safety, and I’m concerned about my stuff getting stolen or broken.

But is that how the bible says I should think? I’m not so sure. It seems, actually, to say the opposite. In Hebrews 13:2, the bible says that I should be sure to welcome strangers into my home. I might be interpreting that wrong, but it sounds like that means I should be sure to welcome strangers into my home.

We might have legitimate safety concerns about safety, or concerns about money, but according to the bible, these are not excuses to withhold generosity. If someone is in need, we should give to them without expecting to receive interest, or even to get it back. If someone needs shelter, we should offer up our own houses to them. If someone needs clothes, we should be willing to give the clothes off our backs.

If you have trouble with this part of the bible, pray about it. Read the passages for yourselves. (You can add Luke 6:34-36 to the list, too.) You have the Holy Spirit in you who will empower you to be generous if only you ask.