Resource Development January 30, 2026

Generosity is the Third Conversion By Chris McDaniel

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Generosity is the Conversion that Accelerates Spiritual Growth!

Most Christians talk openly about two conversions but fail to confront the third: Generosity. This is also known as wallet conversion.

Most readily embrace the conversion of the mind (when truth becomes clear) and the conversion of the heart (when love for Christ awakens). Oh, but the third one often becomes a great stumbling block.

In my talk for a church’s “Ignite Your Faith” initiative, I shared that Generosity is not a side discipline or a nice add-on to Christian maturity. It’s a spiritual transformation as real and necessary as the first two conversions. In many ways, it may be the most revealing one.

The Parable We Often Misread

Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25) wasn’t designed to make us feel guilty about how much money we’re giving away—it’s meant to sharpen our eternal vision. Jesus praises faithfulness, not comfort. He elevates stewardship, not accumulation.

The heart of this parable is simple and deeply convicting: “What we do with what God has entrusted to us follows us into eternity/”

This alone radically reframes Generosity from “How much do I need to give?” to “How much of my life am I investing in eternity?”

Generosity isn’t God taking something from us. It’s God inviting us into something bigger than us.

A Bike, a Prayer, and a Faith That Grew Overnight

One of the most moving moments in my family’s life was the day my daughter prayed for a bike. We didn’t tell anyone. We didn’t post it online. She whispered a prayer to God.

That very day, someone showed up—unexpectedly—with a bike that fit her perfectly.

They didn’t know. God did.

That act of Generosity shaped her view of prayer, provision, and the kindness of God for years to come. It wasn’t the bike. It was the reminder: “I see you. I care about you. I provide for you.”

Generosity does that. It whispers God’s character into someone’s life at just the right moment.

Generosity Starts with Gratitude

Matthew Kelly writes, “Your spiritual health is directly related to your level of gratitude.”

Look around for a moment. Every breath, every friend, every opportunity, every relationship—none of it is earned. All of it is a gift.

Gratitude is the soil. Generosity is the fruit.

When we understand that Everything we have comes from God, giving stops feeling like loss. It becomes worship.

What Your Bank Statement Reveals

Jesus didn’t say, “Where your heart is, your treasure will follow.”
He said the reverse.

Your treasure leads. Your heart follows.

If you want to know where your spiritual priorities are? Look at your transactions. You won’t find them in your work, intentions, theological knowledge, or your choices.

We fund what we love and invest in what we trust. Then will sacrifice for what we value.

This isn’t a condemnation. It’s clarity. And clarity is a gift.

Radical Generosity Made My Ministry Possible

When God called me into full-time ministry, I had the faith—but not the financial support. A church hundreds of miles away, filled with people I had never met, wrote a sacrificial check that covered Everything I needed. That one act of faith launched my calling.

Generosity unlocks destinies. It sends missionaries, funds ministries, and advances the gospel in ways you may never see on this side of eternity.

The Legacy of a Generous Life

One of the greatest models of Generosity I’ve ever known was a man named Burt Crosswhite. Burt didn’t give because he was wealthy; he became wealthy so he could give. His Generosity was fueled by a profound gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.

His life preached one message: “Everything I have is God’s. I’m just managing it until He calls me home.”

Radical Generosity is rarely about resources. It’s about revelation. When you understand what Christ has done for you, Generosity becomes your joyful response—not your reluctant obligation.

The Call to the Third Conversion

You were created for good works that God prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10). Generosity is one of the most tangible ways to walk in those works every single day.

The third conversion is not about losing money. It’s about losing the fear that keeps you from trusting God with your life.

If you’re ready to grow spiritually—deeply and authentically—ask God to convert your wallet.

Not for His sake. For yours.


Chris McDaniel serves as Chief Revenue Officer at vTECH io, a technology and AI solutions company that also equips churches and nonprofits with secure, scalable systems. He is passionate about helping Christian leaders model Generosity and restore impact in their communities. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.


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