Elevated Friday, August 3rd, 2018
Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a recent story of impromptu giving by a group of random strangers on a plane. On a recent flight, 27-year-old teacher Kimber Bermudez was chatting with the man she was seated next to. He asked her what she did for a living, and she, being very passionate about what she does, began to gush about her students and how proud of them she was. The man asked her what her biggest challenge was, and Kimber answered honestly, saying that she works in a low-income school and the lack of funds for the school as well as what each student faces at home can be heartbreaking. She, as well as many other low-income school teachers, routinely dig into their own pocketbooks to help their students with supplies, food, clothing, and even toiletries. During this conversation, Kimber was speaking so passionately about her students that several other people on the flight overheard her. One man behind her reached through the seat with a $100 bill, handed it to her, and said, “Do something amazing!” Another reached across the aisle with $20. This continued, and by the time Kimber stepped off the flight, she counted $500 given to her by strangers. As she recalled, “I said, ‘I’m not here to solicit money.’ And one of them said, ‘I know. That’s why we’re giving it to you. Use your voice. Use your gift of talking.” Kimber plans on using the money to buy new books, as her students often wish for new things to read and learn.
It’s funny, we all can be so willing to try new things in life – whether it be travel, adventure, foods, relationships, or any other thing – without fear and with great excitement. But for many of us, the scariest thing in life is the simple act of opening our pocketbook for the benefit of someone else. Obviously, there is a distinct difference between these two things – we have no fear spending money when it results in something new, exciting, or worthwhile for us personally, but there is great fear in giving money without receiving some sort of personal gain. But when our heart is truly with Jesus, we begin to understand the power of giving money and not receiving. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 2But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We build treasure in heaven when we overcome our fear of giving without receiving. Today, pray for Jesus to help you leap over the wall in your heart and mind that prevents you from opening your pocketbook to those who are in need.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Original Article:
https://bit.ly/2O26fAS