In our Bible Study yesterday we talked about King Nebuchadnezzar’s great failure to show mercy to the poor and oppressed in his kingdom. He was so full of pride at what he considered to be his own power and greatness, and so content and satisfied with his own luxurious lifestyle, he failed to see the great need around him.

The parallel to our world today was obvious. I have to admit to feeling a twinge of guilt for not being as concerned about others as I ought to be. It isn’t until a huge need arises on the scale of a tsunamis or hurricane that I become involved or even aware. My main thought throughout that part of the discussion, however, was my husband. He is the most selfless, giving person I know – bar none.

Whenever there is a need, he is the first to reach into his pocket to give. I on the other hand am always thinking, “Can we really afford to do that?”, because he gives sacrificially. The money doesn’t come out of our budget. He has what he calls his “stash” – money he has earned doing little extra jobs or selling car parts at Swap Meets – and he gives that money. He just amazes me with his generosity. I know he blesses everyone he touches with his humble way of giving.

I have seen God honor that in his life. There was a time when everything fell apart at once for us. My husband was laid off from work (in a very underhanded kind of way – but that’s another story) and at the same time began to lose his eyesight from complications with type 1 diabetes (he has since lost the vision completely in his right eye and has fairly decent vision in the left). We had no income and were trying to get his Veterans Disability and Social Security straightened out. What a nightmare!! We were really in a very difficult situation.

But God…..we would go to church on Sunday and someone would put an envelope containing money in my husband’s hand with the gentle comment, “The Lord told me to give this to you.” Our Home Ministry group took up a collection for us. During that time, we had more money than we had had from his weekly salary. It was miraculous.

It was a little difficult for my generous “Giver” to be on the receiving end of so much generosity, but he learned that he needed to allow others to be blessed as they blessed us. Thankfully everything worked out with his disability, and during the time we were without income we never were in want of a single thing.

God is good. He is faithful, and He honors our faithfulness as well. I have seen it over and over again. We cannot out-give Him. The blessings are not always material, but they are always just exactly what we need. I am so honored to share my life with someone who models daily faithfulness in suffering, sacrificial giving and a heart that is easily touched by the needs of others. He is a wonderful example to me of Christ-like love, and I am so thankful for him.

Blessings,
Linda