A Story of Generosity

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25


Yesterday my friend drove 3 1/2 hours to Anderson, Indiana so he could be the volunteer speaker during a chapel service at The Christian Center (TCC). TCC is a homeless shelter for men and it is where I work. Each week volunteers host 2 chapel services for the residents of the center. The goals of the chapel services are to introduce or reintroduce Christ to men who find themselves fighting countless battles. Some men fight battles of addiction, others harbor bitterness and un-forgiveness from past abuse, while others battle guilt and self hatred from being the abuser.

I was floored that my friend would drive 3 1/2 hours one way to spend an hour talking with these men, just to turn back around the same night and drive 3 1/2 hours home. Talk about generous. It made me stop and wonder how I had been generous recently. Would I do what he did?

After the service, my friend told me that one of the residents insisted on giving him $10 for gas money as a thank you for traveling to speak with them. This particular resident does not have a job. In fact, he has been looking for one for a long time with no luck. Instead of holding onto the little cash he had, he gave it away. Talk about generous.

Today I found out that the resident who gave my friend $10 has been making a little bit of money from a small business in town. The owner of a local shop gives him $10 to shovel snow off of the sidewalks leading up to the front doors of the shop. A few days ago the business owner offered to give this man $20 if he shoveled an additional area. What do you think this man did? He invited another Christian Center resident to join him so they could split the money. Wow. Talk about generous.

How many times have I held back from giving something to someone just because I didn’t want to “run out” of whatever I’m afraid to give away? I’m even sometimes stingy with gum! I don’t want to give away my last piece because what if I need it?

I witness these stories, or I am the recipient of someone’s immense generosity and I am ashamed of myself. My friend sacrificed gas money, sleep, and time to extend hope and a listening ear. A man living in a homeless shelter gave his small day’s wages to my friend for gas money. The same jobless man gave another person the opportunity to make $10 when he could have made $20 for himself. Jesus Christ gave up His life, so that I may live to choose Him. Talk about generous.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:8-10"

I am humbled and thankful for God’s reminders to be generous through people. These stories I just told are perfect examples of why community is so essential to knowing Christ richly and deeply. Jesus’ love knows no socio-economic class, age, or gender. His love is waiting to be revealed to us through anyone who has been changed by His love. I recognized Christ’s love and generosity through a preacher and a homeless man, and in Christ’s love and generosity I can call them both friends. Praise God.