"Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor." ~ Psalm 112:4 - 9
In the passage above, the word "generous" is stated three times. If you want to leave a lasting legacy, be a generous person. This certainly applies to money, but I think we often have an incorrect view of what being generous with our money means. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has a net worth of $17.5 billion dollars, according to Forbes. His donations, such as a recent $500 million dollar gift to a charitable foundation in Silicon Valley, are well publicized. When I see donations like that in the "millions' of dollars, I wonder what difference could I make in comparison to such great wealth. And then I read Mark 12:41 - 44...
"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow had given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.'"
In God's eyes, that widow gave more than Marck Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, or any other billionaire we hear about donating money on the news. While they give out of their surplus, the widow gave all she had.
Generosity is not just about giving money, though. It is also about giving our time and ability to help others. A great example of this is found in Acts 9:36 - 41...
"There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, 'Please come as soon as possible!' So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, 'Get up, Tabitha.' And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive."
The affection that people had for Tabitha in that region jumps off the page. Why? Because she was abundantly generous with her skills and abilities. I'm sure we all can think of "Tabitha's" in our own lives who are always doing kind things for others. Let them know that what they do is a blessing to you.
The unnamed widow who gave all she had and Tabitha are both great examples of how we can leave a lasting legacy. Neither were rich or powerful in the world's eyes. They simply gave their money and skills back to God, and as a result, their stories will be listed in God's Word for the rest of time! What a legacy! Let us leave legacies that will have similar impacts on those around us as we give our resources back to the One who gave them to us in the first place.
