A valuable lesson. St. Thomas Episcopal Church is located in Medina, Washington, home of Microsoft's billionaire president Bill Gates. St. Thomas' fund drive for a new church roof received a gift of 150 Israeli shekels from the Negev Educational Association of Laqiya, Israel. Seems the church had sent a donation to a Bedouin tribe in need, enclosing a newsletter to let the recipients know who had sent the gift. Needless to say, the folks at St. Thomas were humbled.
Generosity is one of the toughest aspects of Christian character to learn.
After all, our culture tells us, people should help themselves first. That is not what the Bible teaches. God's Word describes the church as a group of believers who are willing to sacrifice to help each other, who don't hold personal possessions dearer than fellow Christians, and who are eager to help. A poor church in Israel was just as generous. Lord, thank You for all that You have blessed me with.