From the Pulpit: Generosity gives its own rewards
My friend Ronee, who is a pastor in Oil City, has always been very generous.
When I talked to her a few days ago, she said she had ordered a new comforter from a company that was having a huge sale. She said it was a $250 set with a comforter, pillow shams and a dust ruffle. She got the whole thing for less than $50, plus free shipping.
When it arrived, she opened it and realized a few things. First, it wasn’t really her style, but second, she realized she really didn’t need it. She had ordered it only because it was on sale.
So she decided it was silly to keep it and then packed it up to take to the post office. Well, she discovered it would cost $43. Since she had spent only $50 on it, she didn’t think it was worth it to return it.
She asked the women who were working at the post office, “Hey, do either of you want this?” They said, “Oh, no! That’s OK. We don’t even know what it looks like.” So she asked for a pair of scissors and opened it up.
“Here, it’s really nice. Would you like it?” she said.
Both women liked it. One had just gotten married and was moving into a new house from an apartment. Everyone there decided it made sense for her to have it.
“But I don’t even know you!” she said to Ronee.
“Well, we’ve been talking for 15 minutes, so you know me now,” Ronee answered. And she gave her the comforter.
I want to be like that — to be kind or generous to the point that the person I’m talking to might say, “But I don’t even know you!” This is one small way we can share a little bit of God’s love with someone else.
God loves us extravagantly. Let’s share some of that love this week!
The Rev. Elizabeth Wallace is pastor of Wampum Presbyterian Church. This message is printed in cooperation with the Ellwood City Ministerium.
