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Genius of Generosity: Lessons From a Secret Pact Between Two Friends
Regular savings is wise.
Careful spending is prudent.
But giving generously is genius.
It is the life that is truly life.
The Bible teaches us that generosity is the gateway to intimacy with God as we steward the Owner's resources to please Him. In Genius of Generosity, pastor and author Chip Ingram provides motivation and practical application from Scripture to help each of us grow towards a life of greater giving.
Careful spending is prudent.
But giving generously is genius.
It is the life that is truly life.
The Bible teaches us that generosity is the gateway to intimacy with God as we steward the Owner's resources to please Him. In Genius of Generosity, pastor and author Chip Ingram provides motivation and practical application from Scripture to help each of us grow towards a life of greater giving.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2010
35 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Chip Ingram
310 books228 followersChip Ingram is the teaching pastor and CEO of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. A pastor for over thirty years, Chip is the author of many books, including Culture Shock, The Real Heaven, The Real God, The Invisible War, and Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren and live in California.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 4, 2024
Makes me reconsider my own generosity and how I can align myself more with the generosity of our Father. I recommend this book.
December 31, 2025
A short but mighty book. The ideas themselves weren’t new to me, but they’re written so simply and succintly, backed up by so many examples and Bible verses, that they did actually help me grasp generosity more deeply.
The balance between practice and theory is excellent, and it’s even sparked a concrete idea for something I could explore with my church. More than that, it genuinely challenged my heart. God still has much work to do before the seed this book is planting bears visible fruit, but that’s part of the journey. This book has been one stepping stone, and I’m glad I landed on it along the way.
The balance between practice and theory is excellent, and it’s even sparked a concrete idea for something I could explore with my church. More than that, it genuinely challenged my heart. God still has much work to do before the seed this book is planting bears visible fruit, but that’s part of the journey. This book has been one stepping stone, and I’m glad I landed on it along the way.
March 24, 2018
Great, fast read. Many new concepts I have never thought about regarding generosity. Ultimately, generosity isn't generous until it impacts our life style... Pretty intense... Needed to hear this message.
December 30, 2014
Just about every person – Christian or non-Christian – finds it difficult to talk about money, especially when it involves giving away money. Money – and how it is used and what it is spent on – is a very personal thing. So its intersection with faith can amp up the discomfort even more. No wonder churches avoid the topic of financial stewardship. Biblically, however, financial stewardship is a spiritual discipline, one that reflects our priorities. This book provides a different perspective on money and how it is to be used: we are meant to be generous in using it for purposes beyond ourselves. Ingram provides a very clear, Scripture-based description of generosity and financial stewardship. He does more than simply tell us to be generous – he provides the why. He explains the Biblical foundations, describes our mental perspectives, and examines our heart attitudes. At the end, he even challenges us to grow in our generosity. This is a quick, easy read. Even better, it would be great for a church small group study (there are even discussion questions at the end of each chapter). Recommended read.
September 14, 2019
This book is less than a 100 pages but don't let that fool you, it took me quite awhile to read it. I had to stop constantly and let the new insights sit and simmer for awhile before I could read on. This book is powerful to say the least. Basically, when you give... give and make sure it hurts... make sure it's a sacrifice. Make sure you give out of grace and ultimate love and you are cheerful. Ensure giving is a response to God's grace and an act of great obedience, not obligation. Give as an outpouring of love you cannot keep in any longer. Watch how God shows up and with abundance.
"Spiritually, generosity protects us from short-sighted, bad investments of our time, our talent and out treasure and creates long term wealth."
"Money is the mirror of our heart before God."
"When we understand what life is really about - relationships, joy and eternal impact - we reassess our investments and place them in what truly is a treasure."
"The greatest treasure we could ever have is intimacy with God, and every obstacle to a generous lifestyle wars against it."
"God blesses generous people. The greatest blessings are to live under his authority, experience His power and peace, develop deep relationships with Him and others, know His purposes, and watch Him begin to use our lives and change the lives of others."
"His desire is not to get our money, but to get our hearts and bless our lives."
"Spiritually, generosity protects us from short-sighted, bad investments of our time, our talent and out treasure and creates long term wealth."
"Money is the mirror of our heart before God."
"When we understand what life is really about - relationships, joy and eternal impact - we reassess our investments and place them in what truly is a treasure."
"The greatest treasure we could ever have is intimacy with God, and every obstacle to a generous lifestyle wars against it."
"God blesses generous people. The greatest blessings are to live under his authority, experience His power and peace, develop deep relationships with Him and others, know His purposes, and watch Him begin to use our lives and change the lives of others."
"His desire is not to get our money, but to get our hearts and bless our lives."
January 14, 2018
Chip Ingram describes learning about generosity as a young pastor. An elder in his church, who was a prosperous executive, fed money into an account and asked Ingram to give the money away to people who needed it most. One of them had resources and the other had contacts with needy people. The secret pact began. They met quarterly to discuss results and replenish the fund for the next quarter.
From this experience, Ingram learned the meaning of being a steward of someone else’s money. His task was to give away money that belonged to someone else. In reality, we are each stewards of God’s money and He is willing to keep funding our account if we will give it away.
By couching his message in his experience as a pastor giving away someone else’s money, his teaching points were believable, real, and desirable.
Supported by scripture, the lessons the author learned about generosity come across naturally and not heavy-handed (as giving messages often come across). Moreover, he explains how giving isn’t just something we have to do; it’s the smart thing to do, hence the book title, The Genius of Generosity.
From this experience, Ingram learned the meaning of being a steward of someone else’s money. His task was to give away money that belonged to someone else. In reality, we are each stewards of God’s money and He is willing to keep funding our account if we will give it away.
By couching his message in his experience as a pastor giving away someone else’s money, his teaching points were believable, real, and desirable.
Supported by scripture, the lessons the author learned about generosity come across naturally and not heavy-handed (as giving messages often come across). Moreover, he explains how giving isn’t just something we have to do; it’s the smart thing to do, hence the book title, The Genius of Generosity.
November 5, 2022
Shawn picked this slim four-chapter book up as a prep for the pastor-message on tithing and generosity. So, I took 90 minutes and read it super quickly, because I find the topic of generous living to be encouraging and challenging.
Ultimately, this book is intended for use in small-group, or 4-week sessions. A longer practice and absorption of thoughts and ideas are better than a quick read. However, I loved the message that money is just the beginning of showing our response to the provision and extravagent love that God has shown us.
If you are looking for a book about this, it certainly is approachable. There are good discussion questions, videos with testimonies and stories that you can use and other good resources. If you find it lying around, pick it up, grab a coffee and challenge yourself to be a genius!
Ultimately, this book is intended for use in small-group, or 4-week sessions. A longer practice and absorption of thoughts and ideas are better than a quick read. However, I loved the message that money is just the beginning of showing our response to the provision and extravagent love that God has shown us.
If you are looking for a book about this, it certainly is approachable. There are good discussion questions, videos with testimonies and stories that you can use and other good resources. If you find it lying around, pick it up, grab a coffee and challenge yourself to be a genius!
December 24, 2017
This is just a brilliant little guidebook that I noticed at the bookstore the other day. Its concise 98 pages are jam-packed with understanding and encouragement to become genius at giving. My heart was singing while I read. I want to be a more generous giver. Am I sacrificing as much as I could be for the needs of others? How can I creatively and humbly give more? What does the Bible say about giving? This book gives all the good feels with no condemnation. It makes me want to take immediate action. I’m so excited.
February 7, 2020
The simplicity of generosity is often misunderstood
It's so simple but we make this so hard! Everything we have, everything we are is from and because of God. If you see a need, give as it was given to you.
It's so simple but we make this so hard! Everything we have, everything we are is from and because of God. If you see a need, give as it was given to you.
December 20, 2025
Chip Ingram likens our giving to the Christmas Story -and how there are different levels to sacrificial giving. And it only starts with giving your money.
Worth the read if you want to grow more into Christ’s likeness.
Worth the read if you want to grow more into Christ’s likeness.
December 13, 2017
Full of some interesting information. Gave me some new insight.
July 22, 2018
A lesson on generosity that we can all be reminded of on a daily basis
June 25, 2021
Really enjoyed this book! Loved the perspective it gave on why we should be generous (Jesus was generous with his love towards us first) and what that can look like in our day to day lives.
October 17, 2024
Really good talking about what is generosity. It needs to be a sacrifice of some sort.
December 20, 2025
Good intro to the concept but a bit shallow.
May 7, 2016
One of the things I enjoyed about this book is it not only challenged my views of generosity but also the stewardship of all things God has entrusted to us from kids to marriage and more! I really liked this book and the writer did a good job from start to finish with it.
In his book Genius of Generosity: Lessons From a Secret Pact Between Two Friends Chip Ingram writes the story of how he was changed for life in his understanding of generosity. Ingram was serving in his first pastor role in a small, rural Texas church. A successful businessman, John Saville, was an elder in this church.
One day Saville invited Ingram to lunch, telling him that he must wear a tie. This restaurant was surrounded by glass on the top floor of a large Dallas office building–obviously an upscale place. Saville directed him to order the best item on the menu, which didn’t even include the prices. Chip’s middle-class background was being challenged.
As the meal concluded, Saville pulled out a small white box and had a business deal he wanted Ingram to consider. It was not a deal to make money; rather, it was about giving it away. This was to be their secret pact. Saville laid out his reasoning behind his plan:
Saville had a desire to help poor and hurting people.
Ingram was in daily contact with poor and hurting people.
Saville wanted Ingram to be Saville’s eyes, ears, hands and feet to help poor and hurting people as God may lead him to do.
Read full review/summary here:
https://joemcfadden.org/2016/03/19/th...
In his book Genius of Generosity: Lessons From a Secret Pact Between Two Friends Chip Ingram writes the story of how he was changed for life in his understanding of generosity. Ingram was serving in his first pastor role in a small, rural Texas church. A successful businessman, John Saville, was an elder in this church.
One day Saville invited Ingram to lunch, telling him that he must wear a tie. This restaurant was surrounded by glass on the top floor of a large Dallas office building–obviously an upscale place. Saville directed him to order the best item on the menu, which didn’t even include the prices. Chip’s middle-class background was being challenged.
As the meal concluded, Saville pulled out a small white box and had a business deal he wanted Ingram to consider. It was not a deal to make money; rather, it was about giving it away. This was to be their secret pact. Saville laid out his reasoning behind his plan:
Saville had a desire to help poor and hurting people.
Ingram was in daily contact with poor and hurting people.
Saville wanted Ingram to be Saville’s eyes, ears, hands and feet to help poor and hurting people as God may lead him to do.
Read full review/summary here:
https://joemcfadden.org/2016/03/19/th...
August 1, 2012
The Genius of Generosity is a great resource for encouraging Christians to imitate the generosity of God.
Chip Ingram uses a personal story to develop the idea that hoarding possessions is dangerous and Biblical generosity is genius. This is a great book for Sunday School classes and Small Groups. It is 4 chapters long and it is a refreshing perspective on living generously.
Chip Ingram uses a personal story to develop the idea that hoarding possessions is dangerous and Biblical generosity is genius. This is a great book for Sunday School classes and Small Groups. It is 4 chapters long and it is a refreshing perspective on living generously.
January 18, 2015
Giving lifestyle
I liked that this book spent time key concepts, touching on things like accountability to the Lord's Tithe and how to process it.
The book is helpful, however it does get repetitive.
I highly recommend this for for anyone who wants to try to elevate their trust levels.
I liked that this book spent time key concepts, touching on things like accountability to the Lord's Tithe and how to process it.
The book is helpful, however it does get repetitive.
I highly recommend this for for anyone who wants to try to elevate their trust levels.
September 10, 2015
Reading this book has pushed me to reconsider how I think about generosity. Chip is a truly talented guy who knows how to get to the heart of matters so this is well worth the short read. Upon finishing it, I must agree with him: It's genius to be generous. I pray the Lord will use the principles I've learned here to make me a more loving, giving person.
March 6, 2017
Finished this in about 45 minutes, mostly due to skimming. I found that this book was greatly related to generosity and giving to the church more than as a simple notion to use everyday. I am not very religious so do not take my review the wrong way... I think many people would love the tips and messages given in this book and being a short read it really packed a lot of information in a fun way.
January 1, 2017
I received this book as a gift and I definitely feel it has some eye opening views. This book brought to focus for me things I can improve on, things that would broaden my generosity. I hope to accomplish more generosity in the upcoming year as inspired by this book.
August 23, 2013
Thought provoking.
May 19, 2015
Every Christian should have this book on their book shelf. I'm also a Chip Ingram fan. Enjoyable reading.
November 22, 2015
Good thoughts generosity and God's own character.
November 26, 2015
Good principles.
April 21, 2016
A solid book on how to have Biblical attitudes and practices concerning money. He gives many good Scriptures, with applications and illustrations, throughout.
October 18, 2016
I listen to the audio book and it was AMAZING.
February 5, 2017
“If I could sum up what the Bible teaches about giving in one statement, it would be this: Generous living produces emotional happiness.”
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews