Generosity and Faith

“I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. ” - Philemon 1:6

I heard a lovely story recently about a young boy who was walking home from church across a park. He was reflecting on the sermon message about the importance of being generous to the poor. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus teaches “ whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.” To keep it simple, the minister explained, when you give something to another person you are really giving it to Jesus.

As the boy walked across the park, he saw an old lady sat on a park bench. She looked lonely and hungry. The boy sat down next to her and took a bar of chocolate he had been saving from his pocket. He offered the old lady a piece. She took it with a smile that lit up her whole face. The boy was so moved by the smile that he gave her another piece. They shared the chocolate bar smiling at each other.

Finally, as the boy got up to leave, he turned to the old woman and gave her a hug. And she gave him her very best smile. When he got home, the boy’s mother saw the smile on his face, and she asked him why he was so happy today. He answered, “I shared my chocolate bar with Jesus, and she has a great smile.”

When the old lady reached her apartment near the park, her daughter commented, “You’re all smiles today. What’s made you so happy?” She replied, “I was eating chocolate with Jesus in the park today. And, you know, he’s younger than I expected.”

Make a list of all the things you can be thankful for and take every opportunity to be generous.