Have you ever met someone who seems like they were born with a naturally generous spirit?

You forgot your wallet? Don’t worry—he’ll cover your lunch tab.

You’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for your small children while your spouse is away? She’s at your front door with bags full of groceries, ready to step in for a few hours so that you can get some rest.

You’re drowning in hospital bills after you were in a serious car accident? He sets up a donation page and collects the funds your family needs to make it through a challenging season.

Generosity is often a trait we notice and appreciate in others, but it can be hard to show the same generous spirit ourselves. After all, our time, money, and belongings have value. These earthly resources help us live in this world and provide for ourselves and our families. And, too often, our hearts are preoccupied by a world that is quickly passing away.

God understands our hearts. Through his Word, he guides us toward a different perspective. Instead of focusing on earthly treasures which will fade, God urges us to focus on the treasure of eternal life he has promised us through Jesus Christ:

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.

Colossians 3:1-2 (GNT)

Generosity—freely sharing the blessings God gives to us with others—is one way we can fix our minds on things above. We gain a heavenly perspective by trusting God to provide for us as we seek to bless others through giving our time, money, and resources. And as we reflect God’s generous nature in our lives, we have the chance to tell others about his generosity toward us in Jesus Christ.

Here are five verses that can help you focus your heart on heavenly treasures today.

With God’s help, we can change our focus from earthly treasures to heavenly treasures.

[Jesus said] “How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God! It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

The people who heard him asked, “Who, then, can be saved?”

Jesus answered, “What is humanly impossible is possible for God.”

Luke 18:24-27 (GNT)

Our generosity toward others is a visible, active sign of our love for God.

If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

1 John 3:17-18 (GNT)

When we show generosity, our goal should be to bless others and to glorify our heavenly Father, who promises to reward us.

“So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:2-4 (GNT)

We can find true joy in being generous.

“I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’”

Acts 20:35 (GNT)

We can give generously in this life, knowing that God promises us eternal treasures in heaven.

“Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them.”

Luke 12:33 (GNT)