Have you ever heard a person say one of these comments?

"I paid good money for that . . ."
"You never know how much you will need."
"Save it for a rainy day."

Statements like these often remind us of people from the Interbellum Generation (people born between 1900-1913) or the Greatest Generation (people born between 1914 – 1924.) These generations are disappearing rapidly from our culture. Younger generations have observed them and concluded, "They were so frugal that they could make a penny squeak!"

However, frugality was just one aspect of their lifestyle. Their practicality was mixed with generosity and created the code of living for these Great Depression generations. They lived frugally so they could care for one another and support the Church and other societal causes. They gave with respect for previous generations and with expectant vision toward future generations. Their generosity grew out of faithful duty, human obligation, and Christian responsibility. They internalized and lived the stewardship message of the Gospel.

First, these generations understood that we do not actually gain power or prestige by accumulating more. Most of them had a comfortable, small home appointed with with durable goods and personal items. In later years, many of them could have easily bought a larger home or more lavish cars, but they understood Paul’s message in II Corinthians 8:13-15. In this passage, Paul shares with the Corinthians that he needs their help to raise money for a poor church in Jerusalem. These generations grasped the balance between having enough for themselves and having enough to share with others. They were able to support charitable causes and share their faith because they found contentment by living well within their means.

Second, these generations understood the difference between a want and a need. Extravagant consumption – not extravagant generosity – has become the standard lifestyle for so many in our culture. The line between want and need is blurred. We can all think of examples of this blurry delineation between want and need. The high-definition television, the resort-style vacation, the designer-label clothing and accessories, the upscale appliances, the larger cable/satellite channel line-up, the latest technology gadget – We often have mixed emotions when deciding a need from a want. Our hyperconsumer lifestyle has lead to a perception that we need everything we both can and cannot afford. This lifestyle is now being challenged more and more with the economic recession. People are reviewing their lifestyle choices and reflecting on the advice freely offered by the depression era generations: 1) monitor your expenditures; 2) spend significantly less than you earn; 3) save with a patient and purposeful will; 4) determine if your spending leads to deep, abiding contentment in Jesus Christ or temporary joy from the accumulation of possessions, and 5) discover the freedom inherent in generosity. True contentment comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ! In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus illustrates this concept with the Parable of the Rich Fool.

Third, a prevalent truth for these generations and, in fact, for all generations is that God loves us. God’s love for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant stewardship message of the Gospel. God loves us. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:4-10 that the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross is God’s living example of stewardship and extravagant generosity. God frees all who believe in God’s redemptive love to be Christian stewards on Earth.

Reflect on some people whom you recall from the Interbellum or Greatest Generation. What example of giving and generosity did they model for you? I remember my grandparents. They understood that their generosity provided short-term outcomes with long-term consequences. Their giving offered an immediate boost to a person’s life or a charity’s income. However, their giving provided a lasting impact. Their focus remained steadfast on these long-term outcomes. For example, a contribution to a seminar student’s education provides immediate relief to the seminarian, but the seminary education offered the student a foundation for a lifetime of pastoral service. The small contribution to the local church endowment fund was an immediate gesture of remembrance in memory of a close friend, but the growth of the endowment fund over the years strengthens the church’s ministry. My grandparents, like many of these generations, were inspired by their faith to be generous with their church, their family, and their community. They gave beyond tithing because of the experiential joy they received sharing God’s blessings.

I invite you to reflect on some of the lessons expressed by these generations. Adapt these lessons to your own discipleship today. Reflect with a sense of respect for their witness and with an expectant vision toward future generations. In so doing, I pray that you will find the freedom offered to those who choose to be extravagantly generous.