Generosity And Inheritance!

March 31, 2026

Scripture

“The wicked borrow and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving; surely those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.”  Psalm 37:21-22

Generosity And Inheritance!

Not everyone will receive an inheritance. 

Not everyone will see the promises of the Lord God fulfilled.

Not everyone will pay back what they owe.

Not everyone will receive what they are owed by another person.

Not everyone will be generous.

Not everyone will spend all their days in this life and the next in the presence of the Lord God.

In Psalm 37, we hear these people described as wicked.

Some will receive an inheritance.

Some will see the promises of the Lord God fulfilled.

Some will borrow and pay back what they owe.

Some will be very generous.

Some will spend eternity in the presence of the Lord God.

In Psalm 37, we hear these people described as righteous.

During his life, David learned there is a big difference in how the wicked and the righteous handle financial resources.  He also learned there are eternal consequences to the ways in which we handle our financial resources. 

While visiting with the two daughters of an elderly woman who had recently passed away, the conversation quickly shifted from planning a memorial service for their mother to an argument about which daughter was going to inherit the mother’s four caret diamond ring. 

The argument quickly escalated to an intense level with yelling and screaming.  After about five minutes, both daughters stomped out of the office with little desire to have anything to do with their mother’s memorial service.

Our attitude toward and handling of our financial resources can cause separation in our relationship with the Lord God and with other people.  At the same time, our attitude toward and handling of our financial resources can enhance our relationship with the Lord God and with other people.

David had observed that our attitude toward and handling of our financial resources reveals some important things about our character, our relationships, and our trust in the Lord God.

When Moses was still working as a shepherd in the wilderness, the Lord God made a promise that was for the Israelite people and for all generations to come.  The Lord God’s promise was for a land (i.e., a special place) and a nation (i.e., a special people). 

The challenge of the Lord’s promise to the Israelite people is there was some delay between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise; i.e., a 40 year delay!  Because of the delay, the people needed the Lord God’s frequent reminder that they would inherit a place and be His people. 

As David reflects on the things he has learned in his life, he reminds us of the importance of frequently re-calling the Lord God’s promise of an inheritance.  In Psalm 37:22 David writes; “…surely those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land…”

The righteous will receive God’s blessing, the assurance of being a child of God, and the inheritance of a place.  In response, God’s people will express their gratitude for God’s generosity by being generous in their giving to the Lord God and to other people, especially the poor.

I did not grow up in a church that taught the spiritual discipline of tithing (giving 10% of your income to the work of the Lord God) as a response to God’s generosity to me.  It was when I was an adult that an older woman first taught me the meaning of tithing and then challenged me to tithe.  Throughout my life, there have been other Christ-followers who have encouraged me in the practice of tithing.

Tithing has not always been easy.  There was a time when my salary had been decreased by over 30%, my wife’s salary had been decreased by 50%, a house in which we no longer lived would not sell for over a year, and three of the four members of our family were enrolled as students at the University of Nebraska.  Needless to say, money was in very short supply. 

Although our financial situation was difficult, my wife and I still remained committed to tithing our income to the Lord God.  Yes, our savings was eventually depleted over the next 12 months.  Yes, we struggled to time the payment of our bills.  Yes, we sometimes questioned whether we were doing the right thing with our money. 

But, God’s blessings came back in ways we could have never imagined.  We trusted more deeply than ever before that the Lord God will provide for us in His timing and in His way.  My wife and I visited more frequently about a God-honoring way to handle our financial resources.  We experienced a deeper peace in our relationship with the Lord God and a more profound joy in our generosity.

Those who know they are children of God (i.e., the righteous!) will be generous and will keep giving even when it is difficult because they know the Lord God has reserved an inheritance for them in this life and in the life to come.

Reflect

Do you trust the Lord God will provide for you when things are financially difficult?  How do you express your gratitude to the Lord God for His abundant blessings in your life?  If you are not tithing now, at what level (i.e., percentage of your income) could you start now that would cause you to depend on the Lord even more?  How are you being generous to the poor and needy?

Pray

Lord God, show me where I am not being generous toward you and other people.  Help me to see your picture of the generosity in my heart.  Where I need encouragement, please encourage me.  Where I need correction, please correct me.  Where I need an opportunity to be generous, please open the door to that possibility.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Act

First, start moving towards a tithe of your income.  Second, be generous with someone you know who is struggling right now.  Third, give a one-time gift through a church that expresses your deep gratitude for the Lord’s blessings on you and your confidence the Lord will continue to give you an inheritance.