When we hear the word “generosity,” most of us think of money. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to give financially via caring for those in need, supporting ministry, and holding their resources with open hands. But money is not the only thing we have to give. 

Generosity begins by asking a broader question: What has God placed in my hands?

For some, the answer includes significant financial resources. For others, money may be limited. You may be in high school, college, raising a young family, living on one income, or gaining stability in your first job. Your budget may not leave much room for giving financially, but that does not mean you have nothing to offer.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:12, “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” In context, Paul is encouraging financial generosity. But his words also remind us of an important truth: God does not ask us to give what we do not possess. He invites us to respond faithfully with whatever He has entrusted to us.

Generosity Takes Many Forms

God has given us more than just a bank account. We have time, skills, relationships, experience, influence, attention, and opportunities. When surrendered to Him, any of these can become instruments of generosity.

Some close friends of mine live in an expensive part of the country. One spouse works outside the home while the other cares for their family, so their income is tight. They cannot always give financially to their church as they would like, but they recognized that both have musical gifts and experience leading worship. So, they serve. Several Sundays each month, they give nearly six hours to help lead their church in worship.

That commitment requires waking up early, rearranging their family life, rehearsing ahead of time, and staying through multiple services. Their generosity may not appear on a contribution statement, but it is a real sacrifice.

They also practice generosity in smaller ways. When they watch creators on YouTube, they purposely don’t skip the advertisements. They know watching those ads helps compensate the people whose work they want to support. That may seem insignificant, but intentional generosity is noticing opportunities other people overlook.

Maybe you complete a positive survey after receiving excellent customer service. Perhaps you leave a thoughtful review or write an encouraging note to someone whose work often goes unnoticed. What if you patronized a business starting out in your community rather than a big chain? These acts cost little or nothing, but they can still strengthen someone else.

Give What You Can

Sometimes generosity means using your relationships to open a door. A friend of mine once needed an employee, while another friend was looking for supplemental income. The two would probably never have met on their own, but I was able to connect them. What began as a part-time opportunity eventually became a full-time career in which my friend is now thriving in. I cannot take credit for what that person accomplished once the door opened, but I knew I could at least make the introduction.

You may be able to do the same. Who knows? Maybe your network or friend circle contains the answer to someone else’s prayer.

The same principle applies to practical skills and presence. Barbers sometimes offer free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness who don’t have the money to get their hair cleaned up. Dry cleaners provide professional attire for people to borrow for job interviews. Lawn care professionals donate their services to widows, older adults, or overwhelmed families when their lawns get out of control. They are simply giving what they already know. 

They are living out the wisdom of Proverbs 3:27, which encourages us, “When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs” (CSB). 

I recently heard about a nonprofit restaurant in Times Square, New York called P.S. Kitchen that intentionally hires people with criminal pasts, those who have struggled with homelessness, and survivors of domestic abuse or trafficking, giving them a second chance at meaningful employment and the dignity that comes with honest work. What makes their mission even more remarkable is that the revenue they generate is reinvested into causes that fight poverty and work towards self-sustainability.

Generosity may look different for each of us, but the starting point is often the same: recognizing what God has already placed in our hands. Generosity asks, “What can I do with what God has already given me?”

Put What You Have in Jesus’ Hands

In John 6, thousands of people needed food, and a boy offered five barley loaves and two fish. In John 6:9, Andrew looked at the small meal and asked, “What good is that with this huge crowd?” Humanly speaking, it was not enough. But the boy gave what he had, and Jesus did what only He could do. Everyone ate, and 12 baskets of leftovers remained. The point is not that every gift will produce a visible miracle. It is that scarcity does not have the final word when what we have is placed in Christ’s hands.

We often begin with what we lack: I don’t have enough money, experience, or time to make a difference. But generosity begins with gratitude for what God has already provided. Instead of asking, “What can’t I do?” we must ask, “What do I have?”

Generosity isn’t a competition of resources; it is a willing heart responding to what God has entrusted to us. You may not have everything, but you have something. And when placed in Christ’s hands, even the smallest gift can become more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

This article was originally titled “You’ve Got Something to Give” in the November 2026 issue of Peer.