Stewardship 111
Author: Tommy Herndon
Giving Generously or Living Generously? This seems to be a major concern today. We want people to give generously or live generously but what happened to them doing both?
Jay Link tells three stories on himself. They made me think and I hope they make you think. The first was about a video that the congregation was invited to watch. Jay knew one of the people in the video. He was a young man –B.J. BJ’s wife had a high school friend who was very ill and in need of a kidney transplant. B.J. and his wife were both tested to see if their kidneys were a match. B.J.’s was the match and he donated his kidney. Jay Link said it would never have occurred to him to donate a kidney to a high school friend who was the friend of his wife.
The second story was when Jay was boarding a plane and a man cut in front of him. He was upset at the man. He was looking forward to boarding the plane and getting into his first class seat and getting comfortable. There was a handicapped man in a wheel chair and the airline staff was having a difficult time getting the man out of his wheel-chair into the airline chair so he could be pushed onto the plane. The man who had butted in front of me dropped his suitcase and went to help the staff get the man into the chair. He then went back to get the man’s suitcase and it was right beside Jay’s leg. Jay says then the bomb fell. The man who butted in front of me was the one who helped get the man in the chair and then ran back to get his suitcase.
The third story happened a few minutes after the second. Jay said he got to his seat and was getting comfortable when a woman boarding the plane behind me asked a soldier, “What seat are you?” He said “21B,” which meant he was in Economy, and to top it off, he was in a middle seat. The woman in first class said, “Would you like to sit here?” The woman insisted, and the soldier took her seat. She went to sit in Economy to sit in his seat.
Jay says he was humbled three times. He appreciated the military, but he never once thought about giving up his seat. Often we can give generously and not live generously.
- Characteristic 1 – Generous Living is Open-Hearted – Those who live generously are alert to find people who are struggling or in pain.
- Characteristic 2 – Generous Living is Open-Minded – The minds of those who live generously are always thinking about creative ways to bless and encourage others.
- Characteristic 3 – Generous Living is Open-Handed – The resources of those who live generously (time, talent, and treasure) are happy to give when the opportunity is there. When it is within their power to respond, they consider it a privilege.
We should give generously and live generously!
