Seeking Out Generous Solutions

I have too many books. I can't believe I'm saying that since I absolutely love books. But that is the problem. Every chance I get I pick up a new book and never have the time to read all of them. Many times I pick up a book because I am thinking of someone else who might want to read it. This quote sums up my problem so well, "Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"— Henry Ward Beecher

Anyway, back to our problem of too many books. One day at the HCJB Global ministry service center, I was talking about this problem with several colleagues. It was almost exasperation. I needed to get rid of books but how could I do it in a way that meshed with our commitment to be Generous Minds? That was the question.

Then out of the blue, HCJB's senior editor Harold Goerzen piped up with an idea. He shared about a prison ministry that collected Christian literature to share with prisoners as they reached out. It's called "Library of Hope" and it was a perfect fit. Now as we get ready to downsize our library we have a generous option for this task.

But the thing that God really impressed upon my heart was Harold's generosity to me by sharing about the option. I had been complaining about my problem and searching for a solution to be generous but I had never thought that some of my friends might have the answer.

I don't think I'm alone in this struggle. So many times we don't stop and ask others to share with us what they know. We live in such an individualistic world that we don't think to seek out the generosity of others.

What problem are you dealing with today? Will you commit with me that the next time you hit a wall with an issue that you will seek out 1 or 2 people and ask them what they would do. Who knows what giving them the opportunity to be generous will uncover.