Start by realizing what you have isn't yours. God isn't after what's in your hand. He's after your heart. And when He has your heart, your hands hold nothing back.
In Acts 4 and 5, there's a revival of generosity in the church. Barnabas sells a field and lays the money at the apostles' feet. Then Ananias and Sapphira sell a property, keep part of the money, and act like they gave it all. They both drop dead. That's a little intense for a Sunday school flannelgraph. But we see two hands in that passage: an open hand that gives freely, holding nothing back, and a closed hand that gives safely, cautiously, and hoping to be seen.
God is a God of open hands. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32 ESV). To love is to give. "For God so loved the world, that he gave" (John 3:16 ESV).
You might be thinking, "I don't have much money to give." Generosity is bigger than money. Ask, "What's in my hand that could meet someone's need?" Your words, your influence, your attention, your time, your skills, your home, your money, and your forgiveness. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8 NKJV).
Here's what an open hand looks like:
"I get to give," not "I guess I'll give." Grateful people don't ask how much they have to give. They ask how much they get to give.
Give in secret, not to be seen. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them" (Matthew 6:1 ESV). If you post every time you give, you're giving to be seen. Try this: this week, do one generous thing nobody will ever know about but God.
Give people what they don't deserve. When Megan and I were engaged, we had a terrible server one night. It was Megan's turn to pay, and she wasn't going to tip well. I told her, "We're Christians. We don't give people what they deserve, because Jesus didn't give us what we deserve." To this day, we can get the worst service on earth and we're going to tip you well.
Give your first and best, not your leftovers. That goes for your money, your time with God, and your family. Sit in the driveway for two minutes before you walk in, and give your family your best, not what's left.
Give a gift, not an investment. My mentor, Pastor Daniel, once told me during a season of betrayal, "You're acting like what you did for this person was an investment instead of a gift." An investment expects a return. A gift has no strings attached. "Lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great" (Luke 6:35 ESV).
And sometimes our problem isn't a closed hand. It's closed eyes. Jesus said, "Lift up your eyes, and see" (John 4:35 ESV). Look up. Open your eyes. Then open your hands.
Scripture: Acts 4:32–5:11; Romans 8:32; John 3:16; Matthew 6:1–4; 10:8; Luke 6:34–35; John 4:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7