Mike Kocolowski, Author of Happily Generous, on the Unbreakable Link Between Generosity and Happiness (Ep. 138)

Mike Kocolowski’s early years were formed by scarcity as part of a large family with little income. But a call to ministry in his twenties led him to take radical steps on a faith journey to trusting God with his finances and tackling many of the most common barriers to generosity. As the Chief Stewardship Officer of Christian Financial Resources, Mike has been working with churches for decades to deepen their passion for generosity and to approach the topic of finances with a healthier, biblical perspective.   

In his book Happily Generous, Mike invites people to connect with God as the Great Giver, addresses the major barriers to generosity, and provides a spiritual framework to help people understand the tangible joy that comes from a generous life.  

Major Topics Include:

• Mike’s background and calling to vocational ministry
• Recognizing seeds of generosity in the midst of scarcity
• The cumulative effect of small, generous acts
• How God set the stage for what Mike does today
• Backstory and current goals of Christian Financial Resources
• Advice for experiencing happiness in generosity
• Translating God’s generosity into your daily life
• Growing in generosity while writing his book
• Tips to transition from a scarcity mindset to an abundant mindset
• Encouragement for pastors on the topic of generosity 
• An invitation to start each day with gratitude

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• “If you trust Me for your salvation, can you trust Me for your finances too?”
• “We all have room to grow in the area of generosity, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been tithing since you were two years old or you’ve never given away a dime.” 
• “The road to happiness is paved with generosity.”
• “The manifestations of God’s generosity are endless.”
• “If we accept the premise that God’s the great giver and we’re crafted in His image, we will realize that generosity resides in our DNA. We are genetically designed to give.”
• “The happiest people I know are the most generous. And the most generous people I know are the happiest.”
• “Love gives.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Christian Financial Resources
• Happily Generous by Mike Kocolowski
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Deuteronomy 8:18 | The Power to Get Wealth  

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.  

Acts 20:35 | More Blessed to Give  

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  

James 1:17 | Every Good and Perfect Gift  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  

John 3:16 | He Gave His Only Son  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  

Romans 12:2 | Renew Your Mind  

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  

Psalm 23:1 | Lacking Nothing  

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  

Matthew 6:26 | Fed by the Father  

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  

John 10:10 | Abundant Life  

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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