Live simply & generously

We give joyfully and radically with the money we gain from our careers in response to God’s radical generosity towards us, aligning our hearts with God’s whilst helping fulfil the Great Commission.

Renee Lockey

Work like a doctor, live like a nurse

“I had a successful career. I was out of debt and I just hit a point when I realised I had all this, and I was not in the content place I imagined I’d be.

But when I made a decision that it was time to just go all out and live for Christ, to live my life fully surrendered, it started to get crazy with the things I would hear.

I was on a run, and in a conversation with him, when I heard God say, ‘I want you to work like a doctor, and I want you to live like a nurse.’ So I started thinking, well I could live on a quarter of my salary. And then I just kind of froze in that and started thinking, well about a quarter of my salary is probably about what the average nurse is making. I basically just took my salary and I just sectioned it off, and I said well this is what a nurse would make, and then the remaining three quarters are his. And I feel like God said, ‘That’s right, that’s what you share.’

I’m not gonna lie – it took some time getting used to living on a budget again. But now I feel like the hole I had three or four years ago – the one that made me wonder, ‘What is it, and how do I get it filled?’ – has now been filled to overflowing.”

As told in a video by our friends at Generous Giving. Watch it

Generosity aligns our hearts with God’s

The treasure of God’s kingdom is worth joyfully giving up anything for: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.Matthew 13:44 (NIV)).

This passage serves as a vivid picture of the joy of surrendering lesser treasures to find far greater ones. Generosity flows when we set our hearts on God’s treasure.

Throughout the New Testament, how generous we are with money is seen as one of the most important barometers of the reality of our faith.

This theme runs through the New Testament (see Luke 3:7–14John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”Luke 3:11 (NIV)Read all of Luke 3:7–14 → and Matthew 25:31–46The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25:40 (NIV)Read all of Matthew 25:31–46 →). Jesus is clear: we can’t serve God and money (Matthew 6:24No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.Matthew 6:24 (NIV)). Generosity allows us to lose the grip that the idol of materialism has on us, aligning our hearts instead with God’s.

God owns everything. We are simply his money managers. We’re told that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.Psalm 24:1 (NIV)). God even “gives us the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)). As money managers, we should steward what we’ve been entrusted with for the owner’s benefit.

God’s generosity is the model for ours. We know what love is because Jesus laid down his life for us – and he calls us to do the same for others (1 John 3:16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.1 John 3:16 (NIV)).

If he gave so much, how could our response involve anything less than giving as much as we can? (1 John 3:17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?1 John 3:17 (NIV)).

Giving brings great joy. We experience joy through giving as we align our hearts with God’s will.

The Macedonians, despite their “extreme poverty”, gave with “overflowing joy” and pleaded for “the privilege of sharing in this service” of giving (2 Corinthians 8:1–4And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.2 Corinthians 8:1–4 (NIV)).

Generosity is key to fruitfulness

The “deceitfulness of wealth” is one of the biggest factors that leads us to become “unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22The seed that fell among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.Matthew 13:22 (NIV)).

Radical generosity cuts off the choking weed of wealth. Jesus teaches that weeds can grow up and stifle our fruitfulness as Christians. And what do these weeds represent? “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22The seed that fell among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.Matthew 13:22 (NIV)). Fruitfulness requires our hearts to treasure God, not money.

Money is a tool for loving our neighbours for their eternity. While money doesn’t last for eternity, Jesus has tasked us with the Great Commission, so our money can influence people’s eternity. This mission requires resources. Generosity fuels gospel movements: it supports pastors, evangelists, church-planters, student workers, missionaries, content creators, theologians, and mercy ministries. It funds Bible translations, training events, digital outreach, and practical care that opens doors to Christ. In God’s hands, money becomes a means of advancing the kingdom.

Jesus puts it bluntly: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.Luke 16:9 (NIV)). That is, we are to use temporary money to produce eternal fruit.

As Christians, we should be known for our extravagant generosity rather than our wealth accumulation or consumption. People will come to know Jesus if our generosity is so compelling they want to know the God who inspires it.

God gives us money not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.

2 Corinthians 9:11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV) tells us “you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.”

When God gives more than we need, it’s not so we can indulge ourselves or our children, but so we give generously.

Live simply so others can simply live

Imagine you’re alive during the hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic in Germany. The value of your money is halving every few days. You have your life savings in cash under your mattress. You’re about to leave the country for an extended period, and you know that by the time you return, that money will be worthless.

So what do you do?

You cash in your money for things that will last, keeping only enough to meet your short-term needs as you leave the country.

Earthly money doesn’t last into eternity, but it can buy eternal treasures. Invest it wisely.

What does radical generosity look like?

Radical generosity is sacrificial and shocking – surrendering all we have to God.

For example, Zacchaeus gave half of what he owned (Luke 19:8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”Luke 19:8 (NIV)). And consider the widow at the temple:

The widow gave sacrificially – the Greek literally translates to “she gave all her life”. This is truly radical and demonstrates her deep dependence on God.

John the Baptist gives a similarly challenging picture of generosity: “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (Luke 3:11John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”Luke 3:11 (NIV)). His point is simple. Once we have what we really need – just one shirt and some food – everything beyond that is to be shared.

We should start now

Radical generosity is for everyone. No one is too poor to be radically generous – think of the poor widow at the temple with her copper coins. Just as she gave “all she had”, the Macedonians’ “extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)).

Radical generosity should start now. Generosity takes practice. As students and young adults, we have the perfect opportunity to organise our lives around giving and living on less before we get caught up in the constant pursuit of more. Giving becomes harder the wealthier we get.

Generosity means “liberal sharing”. “No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.Acts 4:32 (NIV)). Alongside giving radically, we should share all the possessions we’ve got, whether that’s food in our kitchens, usage of our laptops, or access to our cars. Sharing our things or lending our money can often be harder than simply giving, yet generosity encompasses all this.

The Bible assures us we can’t give too much. “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously… and God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, 8Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. […] And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.2 Corinthians 9:6, 8 (NIV)). We shouldn’t be afraid of being too generous, but trust God for his generous provision. Remember, as Britons, we are among the richest people in history – living even on minimum wage puts us in the wealthiest 6% of the world.¹

At the same time, we must also avoid the extreme of asceticism, where we reject good food or the ordinary joys God gives – for Jesus himself “came eating and drinking” (Matthew 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.Matthew 11:19 (NIV)). God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment”, yet calls us “to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17–18Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.1 Timothy 6:17–18 (NIV)). Radical generosity is not about stripping life of all good things, but about living simply and joyfully and sharing what we do have. In addition, we must avoid the dangers of being prideful or idolising how little we’re spending.

The quiet danger of lifestyle creep

It’s often said that money doesn’t buy happiness. That’s not quite right: it often brings a short-term boost. But we quickly adapt. What once felt like a luxury soon becomes normal, and our expectations rise again. John Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire, captured it well: “How much is enough? Just a little bit more.”

The data shows a similar story. Research by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman showed that happiness doesn’t increase with a household income above $75,000 (which was roughly equal to the average income at the time).²

He found once our basic needs are met, more money doesn’t satisfy for long. A rising lifestyle reduces our ability to enjoy simple things.

Left unchecked, our lifestyle quietly expands with our income, especially as we compare ourselves to those around us. This is the danger of lifestyle creep.

Fight lifestyle creep

Set a lifestyle cap now. Don’t ask yourself how much to give, but how much to keep. Commit to not increasing your living standards by setting a lifestyle cap, a ceiling to your standard of living, beyond which you give the rest. This cap should shape not only your spending, but also your savings and pension planning, with the goal of saving only what’s needed to sustain that lifestyle for your whole life.

Whilst there’s no hard-and-fast rule, a principle we’d suggest is to always give at least as much as you’re saving. This isn’t a fixed pound amount, rather it’s a commitment to keep our standard of living in check – not letting our holidays, food or house grow more lavish over time. As life circumstances change, we can spend or save more, but we aren’t spending more on comforts or pleasures – only to be strategic for God’s kingdom.

Examples include spending to save time for ministry or work (living nearer your job, hiring a cleaner or buying a basic car), joining mission trips to broaden your perspective, or reducing long-term costs by saving for a house deposit.

But always check the motive – are you building God’s kingdom or your own? Spending thousands extra on a bigger garden to host the annual church barbecue is unlikely to be effective generosity.

Imagine funding church planting movements for decades because you chose to cap your lifestyle at 20 years old.

Share this commitment with a few trusted friends for encouragement and accountability.

Raise our standard of giving, not our standard of living

Marry wisely: be all-in for Jesus together

If you marry, the single biggest factor in whether you continue an all-in career for Jesus will be whether your spouse shares that vision, especially when it comes to radical generosity. Make sure to talk and pray through together how you will approach career, family, generosity and having an impact.

Remember that even if it costs your career, family life – especially the raising of children – is one of the most impactful things you can do, as you train up your children to be the next generation of disciples.

Put it into practice

1. Have you experienced joy in giving before? What made it joyful?

2. What would it look like for you to give in a way that genuinely costs you something significant this month?

3. As your income increases, what system will you put in place to stop your lifestyle rising with it? Might a lifestyle cap be a solution, and if so, how high would it be and why?