“Tell people who are rich … to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others. When they do these things, they will save a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take hold of what is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (CEB)
Last year, our family felt God leading us to give away our third car. With one teenager driving and the other less than a year from starting driver’s ed, this might have been a foolish move. But we felt compelled, especially by the story of a young mom in need.
We gave the van to a single mom with five children who had recently lost her husband to cancer, who’d come into our lives through a strange set of “coincidences.” She needed a car with five backseats (like our van) for her little ones—four of whom were in car seats. The van needed some major work, so several families from our church came together to pay for repairs to make it safe for this family to drive—repairs we actually didn’t have the money to pay for by ourselves.
We ended up with three cars (an amazing blessing) because my ninety-two year- old grandmother gave us her old car. (Yes, she drove it until my uncle insisted that she give it away!) We’d gotten rather used to the luxury of having an extra vehicle, but felt that living like Jesus meant being generous and sharing with those in need.
So giving away the van was an exercise in trust and obedience. It was also a reminder that we are indeed rich, compared to so many. We have no doubt that God will provide in the future.
Missionary Jim Elliott once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
Faith step: How might Jesus be calling you to be generous and share with others?
