How Can I Spread Generosity to Others?

Hello and welcome to another Miracle Every Day moment!

In previous emails, I told you about my friend John. Many years ago, my friend John saw me struggling. I was tired and exhausted under the weight of leadership in the church and John made me an offer that still brings tears to my eyes to this day. He offered to become the Executive Pastor of our church for one entire year and his requested salary for that year of employment was one American dollar! John shared his life and expertise with me, and he saved me in so many ways. I will forever be grateful!

John’s generosity reminds of the Old Testament story of Ruth. Ruth is dedicated to her mother-in-law even though they have suffered a family tragedy. Ruth 1:16-18 says:

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. “ (Ruth 1:16-18, NIV)

Word of her determination to share her life (no matter the cost) with her precious family member reaches the ears of a generous Kinsman-Redeemer, Boaz. Listen to his response from Ruth 2:11-12:

“Boaz replied, ‘I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:11-12, NIV)

My friend, the beauty of generosity in the Kingdom of Jesus is that He always blesses in return.  The blessing may not come in the same financial way that it was given, but ANYTIME we share of ourselves, God blesses us with peace, joy and hope. Listen to this story from Anne in the Philippines who was as desperate as Ruth was at this point in her life:

“I do remember reading the first one. It was by Déborah. I was at the lowest point of my life, and I was feeling so down and just contemplating on ending everything. I live in a high-rise condo, so that would have been an easy thing to do for me, but then I read it, and I did not take it seriously – you know just one of those emails. But then the message resonated so deep inside me, and I really just want to thank Déborah and of course you, Grant. The email I receive every day has been keeping me and keeping my sanity. My faith in God has grown so much deeper because of all the emails and audio guides as well.”

You are a miracle!