If it were mine…

Recently I was thanking a man whose generosity has been a blessing to orphaned and abandoned children.

He looked at me with all sincerity and said, “Trace, honestly, if it were mine, if I really thought I had earned this myself, I probably wouldn’t give it.”

I knew this man’s story.  He didn’t come from wealth. From the world’s view perspective, if anyone is self made, it’s him…and yet here he was saying his money was not his.  Most of us have heard that before, right?

“Good Christians” learn to talk Christian-ese.  We say things like “God owns it all; the cattle on a thousand hills.”  Then, we all nod knowingly as if we’ve fully grasped the deep and wide implications for our lives.  Not this time.  This time, the Truth of what this man was saying wouldn’t slip past me as if I had heard it all 100x before.  It grabbed my heart and didn’t let go.  This time, I wasn’t just hearing it.  I was seeing it lived out, and that kind of living is powerful. 

Tears began to roll down my face.  Tears of gratitude as God has shown me the adventure of a generous life.  Tears of frustration as I still often desire treasures that rust and rot.  In light of my shortcomings, I celebrate God’s grace.  He doesn’t give up on us.  With each new day He gives us the opportunity to live for Him or to live as if it were mine….