Cultivating the Joy of Generosity

The following story is a personal testimony from Darren Whitehead of the Willow Creek Community Church.

"When I was in my early 20s, I started working for a little Christian radio station where they could not pay me much. I got a very modest salary with one little benefit - a company vehicle.
So I thought I could get a little more cash by selling my own car. I put it in the paper and week after week went by with no interest.
So I started to pray that GOD would sell my car, and one day as I was praying about this, I heard this whisper, 'So what are you going to do with the money if I sell your car?'
'Spend it!' was my first thought. But then all of a sudden I saw a vivid image of a co-worker's family. I worked with this guy. They were a couple my parents' age with two kids close to my own age. And I knew that they were having an excruciating time financially.
They had one income and it was not very big. They were living in this little rented house and they had some health issues. These people were just bowled over by circumstances in their lives. So I said, 'GOD, if you sell my car, I will give a sizable portion to this family.' The number that popped into my head was at least double, maybe triple, anything that I had ever given away before. It was a lot of money for me!
So this is not going to surprise you, but right afterwards, my car sold. So I said, 'So, GOD, you know when we were talking about that whole agreement thing? Well ... OK, OK, I am good for it!'
I went to the bank, cashed the check and put the wad of money in an envelope and waited until it got dark. I drove over to the street where my co-worker lived, and stuffed the envelope into the mailbox, closed it up and dashed to my car.
The next day at work this man had a bunch of people gathered around him, and he was sobbing ... just sobbing. He held up an envelope, showed it to me, and said, 'Darren, look at this, look what GOD gave me.'
Funny ... he was calling it a miracle. That GOD gave him this money. I remember the look on his face. I remember thinking so clearly, 'Yes ... GOD did give you that money. Wow! I got to be a part of a miracle!'"

Have you ever been used by the GOD of the universe? If so, you know that there is nothing like it.

ENCOUNTER GOD'S WORD

Examine Acts 2:43, 45, 47 - "A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders .... They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need ... all the while praising GOD and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. Each day the LORD added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

That is what GOD is calling you and I to do. He is inviting us to climb out of the stands - to quit watching - to suit up and to get into the game. He has a jersey with each of our names on it. He has hand-selected you! Do you think that you are reading this email blog by accident?

Henry Blackaby has said in his work, Experiencing GOD, "When you see Him working, when you sense Him drawing you toward something, that is your invitation to join Him where He is!"

So ... this is it! This is your invitation. Are you ready? It will be the ride of your life! It will ignite your heart in a way that you did not know existed. You will do things you never dreamed of doing. You will see the impossible!

Begin now ... Cultivating the Joy of Generosity!