There are many lives waiting to hear the redeeming words of the gospel, or to be lifted from hopelessness by the hands of loving servants. But they will be lost to you without the generous response of disciples who share from their own bounty that others may know the joys of the kingdom. —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a
God gives and loves graciously and generously! We know that all we are and all we have are gifts from God. As followers of Jesus, our whole-life commitment is in response to God's wonderful generosity. Being generous is about aligning our priorities with God's priorities, aligning our hearts with God's heart.
What is our response as disciples of Jesus? In simple terms, we are called to respond with thankfulness and share with others as generously as God has shared with us. The following six spiritual practices of A Disciple’s Generous Response guide us in managing and sharing our resources:
BE GENEROUS
God gifts each person with boundless grace and unending love. Our response to that love and grace is to serve others and let generosity become part of our nature.
BE DEPENDABLE
God's unconditional love for each of us is expressed through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. When we faithfully respond to that ministry we become accountable to one another, God, and ourselves.
MANAGE YOUR MONEY
Managing the money we have, no matter the amount, expresses our desire to love and help God, neighbors, ourselves, and the world. When we focus our giving on God's purposes, our hearts become more aligned with God's heart.
SHARE JOYFULLY
Tithing is a gift of thanksgiving to God in response to God's generous gifts to us. When we share our tithes, the church can spread joy, hope, love, and peace around the world so others can experience God's generosity, too.
SAVE WISELY
Saving is a way to prepare for the future. It gives us the chance to extend our love and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the church's mission, and the world.
SPEND CAREFULLY
Responsibly spending is a commitment to live a healthy, happy life together with God and others. The teachings of Jesus challenge us to make lifestyle choices that are often countercultural.
When we consider the ways that each principle applies to our lives, we respond faithfully and begin to discover our true capacity for giving. The promise in Doctrine and Covenants 163:9 is clear: "Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in grace and generosity that flows from compassionate hearts without thought of return." We invite you to join us on this journey!