Generosity

 

GENEROSITY

 

Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity
(2 Cor. 8:2 NIV).

 

It is a paradox that poor people are often more generous than the rich.

 

When the war in Vietnam ended, refugees were transplanted to nations around the world. Thousands of them came to America. How two towns responded to requests to take in refugees was reported in two contrasting news reports. one article described an oceanside resort which did not welcome the refugees. The town was dependent on its tourist trade, which was attracted by the clean, white beaches. Town members feared an influx of refugees would spoil their beaches.

 

The second article described another community, which accepted hundreds of these victims of war. The townspeople contributed anything they could to help, especially toys, which were high on the request list. one girl brought a doll, obviously not new. A news reporter noticed this little girl with the worn and tattered doll, and asked why she had brought it.

 

"Because they told me these children don't have any toys, and I wanted to give them one of mine," she said.

 

"But why did you bring this one? This looks like it might be your favorite. Why did you bring this one instead of one of your other dolls?"

 

"Oh," the little girl said matter-of-factly, "because it's the only one I've got."

God blesses that kind of generosity!

 

Life response: I will discover the joy of generosity.