Joyful Giving

In 1999 I was driving home from a business trip in Sacramento California. While I was driving, I was listening to a Bible study on a local radio station.

The topic was “Joyful giving.” The Pastor giving the study commented that when we give, God looks at the condition of our heart. Whatever we give, whether it’s our time, money, effort, or help, He desires for us to enjoy giving with the right attitude. God doesn’t want us to do things or to give with a bad attitude.

The word the Pastor kept using was “hilarious,” be a “hilarious” giver. I confessed to the LORD that I really didn’t understand what that meant. A few minutes later I realized I was hungry and decided to get off the highway and stop at Burger King.

As I pulled through the drive through and ordered, the LORD spoke to me. He told me to pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru. My heart started racing, and I was suddenly gripped with fear. “What, that’s crazy.” “What’s the guy gonna think?” “What’s the person in the drive-thru gonna think?”

“Who cares? Just do it and see what happens.”

So I did. When I got to the window to pay, I asked the clerk how much it was for the car behind me. The drive-thru clerk got a really puzzled look on her face and said “What??” Again I nervously asked how much it was for the person behind me and explained that I wanted to pay for their food.

She told me how much it was and I paid for both and gave her a Bible tract to give to the guy behind me. I got my food and left as quickly as possible. Without looking back, I quickly got back on the highway going home. After a few minutes I settled down, and it hit me what just happened. I began to laugh out loud. “That was awesome. I wonder what happened when that guy got to the window and found out that his food was already paid for!” “What’s he gonna do, refuse it? No way!”

It was hilarious. A random act of kindness for someone else when they least expected it. For a total stranger! Ha ha!

It’s what Jesus does for people all the time.

To this day, at random when I go through a drive-thru to get something to eat, the LORD will remind me of that day, I’ll laugh and buy the food for the car behind me (sometimes 2 or 3 if I have the money), leave a few Bible tracts, and leave without fanfare.

How has the LORD taught you about being a joyful giver?