Generosity

At Ridge Church and in the RouseHouse we are teaching our children how to be generous. We want to create a culture of generosity because we are called to bless others and I truly believe that when we are generous with what God has graciously given us then we are blessed.

Mac, our 7 year old son, and I had this discussion the other night before we prayed and went to bed. It went something like this…

Me: Mac how was UpStreet today?(this is the environment that he goes to at Ridge Church on Sunday mornings)
Mac: Good. We are helping Eric, the boy that lives in Africa again. We are filling up jars with money so he can have what he needs. The boys and girls are racing to see who can fill their jar up first.
Me: Cool.
Mac: I gave my two dollars that I got from helping clean up at Nana’s yesterday.
Me: Mac that is awesome that you gave what you had!
Mac: I remembered that I have a full piggy bank too so I am taking it to church next week and emptying it all out.
Me: Really? That would be great.
Mac: I think that he needs it more. You know he actually has to pay to go to school and only gets to go to the doctor a few times a year. My school is free, I have tons of toys and I can go to the doctor every time I’m sick.
Me: I think that would be great Mac. Let’s pray and go to bed.
Mac: God please help Eric get all the money he needs for stuff and God I hope he can get more than he needs………

WOW! I left that bed room full of excitement for the generosity that is growing in that little boys heart. The big kicker here is that Mac has been saving his money to buy an iPod touch but instead he is giving much of his money away. This reminds of the story in Mark 12 where the lady who had very little gave it all. God loves a cheerful, generous giver! How can we all be generous today with what we have? How different would our communities and world be if we all took this to heart today.

Mark 12:42-44
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty(need), put in everything—all she had to live on.