Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
- Jeremiah 29:7
 
What happens when you offer your gifts to bless others? You receive a blessing.
 
Social scientists have studied generosity a great deal. One of our favorites is Adam Grant from the Wharton School of Business. He breaks people into three categories: givers, takers, and matchers (people who give to those who give and withhold from those who just take all the time). In study after study he’s found that, in the business world, the strategy of generosity leads to the best overall outcomes.
 
We shouldn’t be surprised by this. We see it spelled out right here in Jeremiah. As Babylon prospers, the Israelites in exile will also prosper. Under the right conditions, a rising tide lifts all boats.
 
This principle gets to be challenging if you dig beneath the surface of it. In the short-term, seeking the peace and prosperity of the Babylonians fuels their imperial hegemony and will extend the exile. The cost is definite and the return is not. We’ve all seen the rising tide benefit some significantly more than others.
 
We reject the manipulative teaching that would guarantee an immediate material return on your generosity. That’s not how this works.
 
The very act of seeking the peace and prosperity of Babylon formed the people of Israel into the sort of people who could prosper themselves. They embraced their agency. They believed the truth that they had something to offer. Their relationships deepened and their God-confidence grew. They engaged in a process of spiritual formation.
 
Generosity will change and shape you. Becoming a generous-hearted person may cost you. Some might take advantage of you. But in the long run, you’ll flourish.
 
Where might God invite you to show some generosity today? Whose peace and prosperity can you seek?