It Ceases to Be a Gift
July 18
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us … if it is con-
tributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.
Romans 12:6,8
Bobby was fifty-three and single. He owed two thousand dollars on student
loans, had three credit cards maxed out, and two signature loans totaling sev-
eral thousand dollars. The remarkable thing about his financial situation was
that all this debt was on behalf of other people. Bobby had literally taken on
the cash flow problems of others in an effort to help them out during tough
times. Bobby was a giver; he was always helping others out. People assumed
Bobby was wealthy; no one ever suspected he was going into debt on his or
her behalf.
He’d gotten started in this back-door philanthropy by helping his younger
brother pay off a high-interest loan.
A bean counter of sorts, Bobby enjoyed seeing people set free from the
financial burdens holding them back. When word would come about someone
in need, Bobby offered a gift large enough to meet the need. His credit report
was spotless, so he never had trouble financing his ministry.
One prior beneficiary had gone on to secure a home loan because of Bob-
by’s generosity. He offered to pay everything back, but Bobby had declined his
offer, saying, “If I allow you to pay me back, it ceases to be a gift.”
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Not many people would consider a small mountain of debt a blessing. But
Bobby did. And each day he went looking for ways to use his gift. Out of the
generosity of his heart, Bobby lifted the burdens of family, friends, and strang-
ers alike, anonymously giving through third parties when practical.
Today’s text says that each of us is gifted in some way. In it, Paul points out
that we are to use that gift to make other’s lives better. It is God’s desire that we
discover what our gift is, and that we put it to use.
Prayer
“Lord, show me what my gift is, then lead me to
a place of selfless desire to give of myself in light
of Your Great Gift. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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