My book, The Teacher, explores aspects of daily life that touch us all, and considers the best way to approach them. It does so, though, not on the basis of some arbitrary judgement of my own, but exploring rather words of the Teacher (almost certainly, King Solomon) from the Old Testament. Then, and only then, do I reflect further on what these words may have to say to us today. This extract considers the gift of a generous heart – something that many of us will aspire to but few truly attain.
Generosity
I saw a tramp by the roadside, and a busy throng walked on by, eyes averted, excuses silently made as they hurried past. But one stopped, offering not a token coin, but food, a blanket and a listening ear. And in that simple act of kindness a ray of sunshine broke into the darkness of the world.
Then I asked the Teacher, ‘Help me to be generous in turn. Show me what I must do.’
And the Teacher answered, ‘If you are able to help someone, never fail to do so. Don’t tell your neighbour, “Go away, and come back tomorrow. Maybe I’ll help you then.”’
I saw then that what we think we possess can end up possessing us if we will not share it, and that what we cling to so tightly in fact holds us in its grip.
Better to be generous to a fault than see meanness as a virtue. Better to help others than help ourselves, for what we jealously guard swiftly loses its lustre, while that which we give sparkles more brightly every day.
And I said to the Teacher, ‘Speak to me of goodness: of a kind heart and generous spirit.’
‘Some people give freely,’ the Teacher answered, ‘yet seem to prosper, while others refuse to give what they should and somehow appear to be lacking.
‘A generous person will find enrichment, and the one who brings refreshment to others will be refreshed in turn. Kindness brings its own reward; likewise unkindness, its own punishment. The generous-hearted are richly blessed, for they share what they have with the poor. Those who make goodness and kindness their aim discover life itself.’
Then I understood that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive, for though receiving a gift brings happiness, offering a gift yields greater joy. To give pleasure is to share pleasure, and to give much is to receive more. Why limit to one what can so easily bless two?
I saw, also, that the generous give not because they must but because they may, not out of duty but out of joy, their heart as open as their hand.
And I saw that what costs us little can mean much, what seems small can be great, what appears trifling can be special beyond words. And the greatest gift is this: to give not just of our money or possessions, but of ourselves – our love, our soul, our being.
So then, don’t just do what you have to do, or give what you can afford to give. Whenever you can, do more; offer that little bit extra; put yourself out for the sake of another. Learn to let go, to share from your paucity or your plenty, and you will discover riches indeed.