Ride Sharing
GOD COMMANDS GENEROSITY.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Deuteronomy 24:19-22.
Verse of the Day: “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16).
“Do we have to pick up Marvin again?” Kelly whined as Dad backed the car out of their driveway. Marvin was an elderly man in their congregation.
“Yeah, Dad,” her brother Adam agreed. “It takes forever to pick him up on our way to church!”
Dad opened his mouth to answer, but Kelly spoke again.
“It’s like we go a half hour out of our way. Why do we have to take him to church?”
“Well,” Dad said, “we don’t have to.”
“Good!” Adam said.
“But I know you would both want to choose to be obedient to God,” Dad said, his voice soft and gentle.
“What’s God got to do with picking up Marvin?” Kelly asked.
“Well, Kelly,” Dad continued, “God commands us to be generous with other people, especially those who are in need. Now, you’ve been to Marvin’s apartment….”
“Yeah,” Kelly said, nodding. Marvin lived in a poor section of the city, and his apartment barely had any furniture in it.
“You know that Marvin doesn’t have much,” Dad continued.
“Why don’t we just take him a bag of groceries every once in a while instead of picking him up every Sunday for church?” Adam suggested.
“I’ve tried to do things like that,” Dad answered, “but I haven’t been able to get Marvin to accept any groceries or gifts. I think it embarrasses him.”
Mom joined the conversation. “But he will let us take him to church every Sunday.”
“So you’re, like, helping him with your time and your car instead of with groceries or stuff,” Kelly said.
Dad nodded. “Right. This is a way to be generous with Marvin in a way he’ll accept.” Dad paused and studied his two children in the rearview mirror. “But, if you insist, I guess I could tell him we can’t pick him up anymore.”
“N-no,” Kelly said. “That’s all right.”
“Yeah,” Adam agreed. “It’s not that far out of our way.”
Dad and Mom exchanged smiles. “Well, all right,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “Have it your way.”
TO DISCUSS: In today’s Bible reading, why do you think God commanded the Israelites not to harvest all their crops? Does your family make a habit of being generous? Name some people you’ve been generous to in recent days. Can you think of new ways to be generous to others?
TO PRAY: “Lord, remind us that you command us to be generous. Help us use our resources to provide for those you send our way.”