Knowing the meaning of generosity
A few years ago just before Christmas, filmmaker Rob Bliss conducted an experiment with a group of elementary school-age children, all about eight to nine years old, and who came from low income families. The children were asked what they wanted for Christmas, and they replied in a normal way. One girl wanted a computer. Another wanted a big Barbie house. One boy wanted a trophy case, and another wanted an Xbox 360. Another wanted Minecraft Legos. Then, the children were asked what their parents might want for Christmas, and they listed a lot of things like jewelry, watches, rings, mostly personal things they never had a chance of receiving.
Then, to the children’s surprise, they were presented with all of the gifts they had asked for themselves plus all of the gifts they thought their parents would like, but there was a catch. The catch? It turned out the children could keep only one gift — either the one they had asked for themselves or the one for their parents. The choice was obvious: They had to choose which gift was the most important, the one for themselves or the one for their parents.
Without hesitation, each child chose to forego a gift for themselves in favor of a gift for their parents. When asked why, their answers were telling. When asked about the Legos, one boy said, “Because Legos don’t matter. Your family matters.” Another said, “I get gifts every year, but my mom doesn’t get anything. She’s always there to help me when I get sick or with my homework.” A boy observed, “She gives me a house to live in,” and another said, “My parents look out for me and do stuff for me.” These young children from low income families already knew the meaning of generosity, apparently taught by caring parents.
God is the great Giver of blessings, but His followers also give many times without even asking for a thank you. Let me share some personal experiences. When I needed assistance to go to Phoenix to receive a special award from the International Conference of Police Chaplains, someone I had never met sent me enough money for transportation and lodging without even asking. When my table saw broke, another friend whom I had not seen for over 70 years sent me enough money to purchase another one. And, the other day as I waited in line to purchase a sandwich, the man and woman in front of me walked up and handed me a gift card to cover the cost of my meal. I do not even know their names let alone who they are (although I thanked them from the bottom of my heart for their generosity).
When my wife and I were married and moved into a small parsonage owned by a small church that paid a total yearly salary of $6,000, the church people gave us a “pounding.” That’s when each church member brings you a “pound” of something to help you begin your new life together serving the church. That same church, when we were surprised by a lot of family members who came to visit, had members who sneaked around to our back door to deliver extra food for us to share.
There is no question but what the church is the primary teacher of generosity. Christians are taught that the first 10% of their income belongs to the Lord and is to be given to His church, and the church then reaches out in
generosity to help others. Only recently, when I was visiting a local church, the pastor announced that the church had just given another church a special gift to help them complete one of their mission goals. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I have helped in the name of the churches I served who needed a meal, lodging, clothing or guidance.
In the midst of a sinful world full of people abusing the privilege of giving, it is great to know that God’s people still know how to give generously. That’s why the Bible says it is “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Praise God!
Robert Box has been a law enforcement chaplain for 30 years. He is a diplomate-level chaplain with the International Conference of Police Chaplains and is an endorsed chaplain with the American Baptist Churches USA. He also currently serves as a deputy sheriff chaplain for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not the agencies he serves.