Rippling Generosity

Good Morning,

Not long ago I was in the drive-through at Chick-Fil-A and when I pulled up to the window to pay I had a nice surprise.  The car in front of me had already paid for my order.  It was a nice boost in the middle of a difficult week.  The person didn’t do it so they could see me thank them, they simply did it to be generous. It put a smile back on my face.

A couple days later I was in our local Starbucks and God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “How about paying for the person in line after you?”.  So, I did. What I then found out from the employees was that the people I had paid for were so blessed, that they purchased a $10 gift card for the person behind them.  And amazingly, the person who received the $10 gift card purchased a $10 gift card for the person behind them.  I call that rippling generosity.  And it really is contagious.

Sometimes it means we are generous with our money and sometimes with our other resources.  Like time for example.  Later that same week an on-coming car ran me off a narrow side road and I hit a rock shattering my tire.  To make things worse, my spare tire system would not work. There I was stranded in an area with no cell service when I flagged down a car to ask if he could call someone when he got into cell range.  He did better than that.  He gave me a ride back to the next little town so I could call roadside assistance while waiting at a restaurant.  He truly was a good Samaritan.

Then this past week, another friend of mine and I had the chance to help a woman on busy I-70 change a flat tire.  She was very grateful and tried to pay us. We explained to her that we didn’t want her money, we just wanted to help.

What could you do this week to be generous to someone? It might be at the drive-through window, at the coffee shop, loaning someone use of your truck, taking time to help a stranded driver. picking up the check at the table next to you in the restaurant, or leaving a $20 tip for your $10 burger.  You will put a smile on someone else’s face. I bet you’ll put a smile in your own heart at the same time.

I think when Jesus talks about storing up treasures in heaven this is part of what He had in mind.  Generosity compelled by love not duty.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25

Live this week on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein