Momentum For Monday, February 26th 2024

“He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. “ (Proverbs 22:9)

“Does anyone have a thousand dollars I can borrow? I’ll pay you back when we get home.” That is one of my favorite stories from a friend that I have been doing missions together with for years now. We were in Haiti at the time, and she wanted to give some more money to a family or ministry before we left to go back home. I smile every time I think of that story.

I just got back from the Philippines recently with that same person. She now heads up the Philippines portion of Mission 1:11, a mission organization I work with closely. The woman has a heart to help her people, but she also has a heart to help people in general. One of her biggest spiritual gifts is serving and if you ever saw her in action, you’d understand.

If you ask her why she does it, why she helps or gives so generously, she’d give all credit to God. However, this woman comes from humble means and has been through some stuff in her life. When she testifies, she knows Who has blessed her and has never forgotten where she came from or what God has brought her through.

I get that though. We are often sensitive and compassionate to other people when we have been through the same problem. We know their pain and suffering and know how much it would mean if someone would have helped us. I’m grateful for people like her. Generous people have been some of the greatest teachers and influencers in my life. Their generous eye brings encouragement and refreshment to others and themselves.

It’s not always about money though. It can mean being generous with your time or patience. We can be generous with our resources or talents. But we have to start with a generous eye. A need must be seen first before it can be met. So, what needs do you see around you?

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

(2 Corinthians 9:6)