I try to be generous with my money and time. That is not to say that I am also not selfish with my time and money, because I am. However, today I experienced generosity from a total stranger.
It is funny how God works. While driving to work this evening, I was on a turnpike where we pay a flat rate. At my first toll booth, the car ahead of me paid for my toll. It was very generous of them to do that and I should have passed it on, but I did not. Part of the problem is that it caught me completely off guard otherwise I would have passed on the generosity.
Typically, I am scowling at people to get out of the way on the highway. In other words, people on the road just aggravate me to no ends. They drive slow in the passing lane. The do not want to get over into the right lane. They will not pass trucks. They cannot drive consistent speeds. It goes on and on. This is me whining.
Because of this one act, I was irritated at times, but I would typically just laugh as drove by the person shaking my head. Is this what God intended? I do not know, but it got me thinking.
We take God for granted. We are demanding most of the time for selfish reason and get upset when He does not respond with a “Yes!”. However, did you ever stop to think that He was very generous already? My guess is no because we are all selfish.
God created each one of us. He sent His Son to die for each of our sins. He has not wiped us out and started over. He forgives us of all our sins. He provides for all of our actual needs, not wants. He is very generous.
So next time you start complaining stop and think about what God has really done for you. I will go out on a limb here and say that He has done a lot, but you do not recognize it. How many times have you been slowed up and you stop to think that could have been you in that accident? Or that could be you dead? Or that could be you who is without a home and food?
Stop complaining and be thankful for what you have and then help out others. This help is not about enabling bad behavior from others.