Generosity
Oct 27, 2011It all started simply. This July, Jonathan Stark tried a very simple experiment in mobile currency and “paying it forward.” He posted his Starbucks card online, asking people to: buy coffee for someone and then recharge the card when it falls low. What happened next far exceeded his expectations. Throughout the course of one month, people added over $8,700 to the card, and told amazing stories of giving to others and brightening the world with kindness, one person at a time.*
Even though I grew up in Seattle, I never liked coffee, even to this day. Still, this story is inspiring. There is something about extravagant kindness that impacts our hearts. Generosity and giving that share joy freely.
It brings to mind the words of Jesus in Luke 11:34 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.”
In Greek, the word healthy means generous. Jesus is saying, if our eyes (outlook and worldview) are healthy (generous and ready to give beyond what is expected) then our whole life will be full of light. It’s true isn’t it? I know I’ve seen it in my own life. When I share, even the little that I have left is richer and sweeter than when savored alone.
There are two ways to live – open and generous (in the light) or closed and keeping all for oneself (in darkness). Jesus invites you and I to live in the light. To experience His extravagant generosity towards us and to live with extravagant generosity towards others. In big ways and in small, we can all give and make a difference. My question to you is: How is God calling you to live generously, extravagantly, kindly today?
- Pastor Tara VinCross
- See http://jonathanstark.com/card/ for the full story
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