ANYONE Can give!

 

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What’s up Brothers and Sisters… this is your Podcast pastor master and Brother from another other forev-uh Mother

 

 

Generosity

Gary Waddingham, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Billings, Montana, tells this story: several years ago, when I was ministering in a small rural community, we had extra food left over from our Christmas basket.  I happened to think of a poor family that lived on the edge of town.  I drove to their house with food in tow.  I am never sure how ones goes about “doing charity” while preserving the dignity of those who receive the charity.  I said to the woman “do you know anyone who could use some extra food?  Thinking this was a subtle way of offering the food the her” you bet she said and got her coat, headed toward her car, and said “follow me”.  She took me to people who were poorer than she, who also desperately needed food.  I remember clearly that there was absolutely no hesitation on her part.  

 

 

2 Cor. 9:6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.…

 

This is not about a tithe… I don’t tithe because I can’t do it cheerfully… uh well sorry.

 

This is about generosity, giving above and beyond your tithe. And it states that God will give you grace to abound… give more than you want to in order to make him happy and you happy in many good works… Cheerful GK Hilario 

 

GENEROSITY

There is a story of a mid eastern king who came to the states to be seen by a doctor for a special surgery.  The Doctor did not know what to charge the king, should it be five thousand dollars to show that he is a good neighbor… he did travel a far distance.  Or should he charge ten thousand because that is the actual cost.  Or should he charge twenty thousand for that is what he could rightfully charge knowing the king could pay it easily.  Finally he remembered his pastor had been a missionary in that part of the mid east.  He called him and said what should I do?  The minister replied oh don’t worry about the king he is an honorable man.  Just put an invoice in the mail with no amount and put a hand written note in their that says “the highly esteemed king will do the honorable thing”. A few weeks went by and he received a letter from the king with a check for $75,000.  The man was ecstatic, he bought a new car, some new furniture and blew the rest on a cruise with his wife.  When they got back from the cruise the man was opening his mail and saw a letter from the church.  It was a pledge card for the new church building with a handwritten note in it that read “The highly esteemed church member will do the honorable thing”.  

 

How to be generous… but seriously

 - Don’t start out giving to get anything back… not even from God.

Be a generous giver not a investment giver. Look I give money every month to my investor… its hard giving it, but I know I will most likely get a pretty good return and be able to retire someday. But thats not generosity - thats just good business sense. True generosity gives expecting nothing back but maybe a really good feeling. Will God bless you? of course… but thats not where generosity should start. WHy?  Because the first time you don’t get your payback, you will quit being generous. And lets be honest, generosity is much to important to make it about you. 

 

 - Give stuff not just money…

But please make it good stuff… not a toaster that has only one side working. Not the clothes you no longer wear or are out of date… Hey here is my Members only jacket… sorry about the glue stain on the front. 

Every couple years I just grab some cool meaning stuff from my house and give it away. Last time I did it, I gave a gun, guitar, a ring and some money. They were all very very nice things… But I made a promise years and years ago- nothing will own me. 

 

  -  Give your time and talent… 

I can lift a piano, safe and couch… So guess who gets called on to help people move? I don’t mind it because I truly see it as being generous. There are not a lot of people who you can call to move a piano or a gun safe… but I have that talent and so without asking for money I give up my time and use my talent. And I get just as much out of it as if I paid for them to get it moved. And what is actually pretty crazy - people do see it as generous.

Look, anyone can be generous… so be anyone!