April 15, 2020
Generosity
“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord....” II Corinthians 8: 3
In times of crisis, common people can do uncommon things. I read this morning in the Washington Post newspaper about an anonymous donor who gave every household in Earlham, Iowa three 50-dollar gift cards, two for restaurants and one for the only grocery store in town. Total gift: $82,000.00. After the town’s assistant city clerk stuffed the cards into envelopes and dropped them off at the post office, thank you notes poured into city hall with some residents even returning the gift cards to be shared with those families in the school district, but living outside the city limits.
One more inspirational story. However small or large the gift, let us look for ways to help people financially in these difficult times when the rate of job losses are hitting record-highs and the food lines are growing longer and longer, remembering Paul’s testimony about the generosity of the church in Macedonia that they gave according to their ability and beyond.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be generous today to those who are in great need. Open our hearts so that we may give generously. In your name we pray. Amen.