Recently I wrote about words adopted into English from other languages; I love the etymology of words (finding out about their origins.) Today’s word for me is ‘LARGESSE.’
This word comes from the Latin word ‘largus’, meaning ‘copious’ or ‘generous’ (think ‘large’!), and is a French word. It’s one of those words whose meaning we can guess at (to do with size!), and is synonymous with generosity, bounty, philanthropy and giving. There is indeed a sense of big-ness in this word, an open-handed liberality which often signifies a lavish act of kindness. We use it to talk about a billionaire’s philanthropy, about money that is given freely to help others.
Each year I rely on the largesse of funders to support the charitable work I do in the community. I am profoundly grateful to be the recipient of such generosity and practical kindness. It’s impossible for me to measure the value of such largesse, for the effect and impact go way beyond the monetary value of the giving.
But more than this largesse, I am profoundly grateful for the largesse of God, for His unmerited favour, for His unearned grace, for HIs deep generosity to me, not only in the daily provision He provides (Jehovah Jireh!) but also for His mercy, protection and goodness.
Something of the largesse of God is expressed in Luke 6:38: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’
My grandchildren still haven’t fully got the hang of pouring liquid into cups. Sometimes they keep on pouring long after the container is full, and the result is messy – liquid everywhere! There’s a reason the teacup has a saucer: to catch the overflow!
God is like my grandchildren! He doesn’t mind more. He gives abundantly, lavishly, generously, more than we need; He gives with largesse. He expects us to be the same, and challenges us with a promise attached to the challenge: ‘give, and it will be given to you.’ He challenged the Israelites to honour Him with their tithes and offering, giving Him the firstfruits of all they did: ‘Test me in these things ,and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough room to store it.’ (Mal 3:10)
Our largesse can never match God’s, but we can certainly follow the example of His generosity. (2 Cor 9;6-11) Largesse begets largesse; generosity fuels generosity.