An Age Old Excuse Revisited: Generosity

"I'm going to earn lots of money, so I can be generous with it." I've said it, I've heard it, but I can't agree with it as a Christian.

The formula of the argument is:
1) If I have a lot of [X], then I will use [X] for good.
2) I don't have [X].
3) Therefore I should have [X].

But of course, it's not just related to having money: we can replace X with power, time, blessing/gifts, opportunity, beauty, etc. So we keep telling ourselves,
"if only I was given this position of leadership, then I can make a big difference," or
"if only I could go to that place, then I could serve properly," or
"if only I was good at public speaking, then I would be able to persuade people."

I think God has warned us not to have evil or selfish desires to spend on our own pleasures from the letter by James.

A few good questions to ask in order to test ourselves would be:
"Am I generous with what I have now?"
"Am I using what I have now for serving and helping others?"
"How has my pattern of life been like? Generous, thoughtful and considerate?"

If we lack what is good, then God will provide. I am sure He is more than happy, if James was right in his letter, to grant me a generous heart. I'm going to ask for that right now, and I'm going to ask for that gift for anyone reading this blog at all. It'll make me feel better.