Compassion: 30 Days of HeartworkSample

Generosity for All

HEART //  

Where there is much poverty and despair, there is even more hope and generosity.

Clarice, Aira, Kate and Mary Ann are a part of Compassion International’s child sponsorship program in Masbate, Philippines. Despite being born into poverty, they learned about the love of God and received hope and resources through sponsorship. Their lives have been transformed, and they want to give back and help others in need.

These teenagers have decided to use their resources to serve by teaching and feeding children in their community. They gather other teenagers to travel to a nearby fishing community to serve children in poverty. They share the gospel, teach songs about God, play games and give out food. By partnering with a local church, the teenagers have the resources to lead a generous, much-needed ministry.

Clarice, Aira, Kate and Mary Ann find incredible joy by giving back to their community. Being in leadership sometimes feels nerve-racking, but Mary Ann explains, t“Teaching kids is a privilege.” Through this ministry, the teenagers have discovered God’s calling for generosity on their own lives and futures.

Even though the teenagers in Masbate live in poverty, they cannot wait to give back to their community. “I don’t really consider this giving back,” said Clarice. “We feel we are simply giving what these children need, and what God wants us to do for them.” They have received generosity, and they want to give generosity in return. What a beautiful reflection of the love and sacrifice of God.  

The reality of compassion and generosity isn’t just that the rich need to give to help the poor. It’s that Christians need to be like their Father and live with relentless compassion. We are to do what our Father does. Even the poorest and youngest Christians are called to give and love generously. Mark 12:42-43 describes a poor widow who gave “more than all the others” in Jesus’ opinion, with the few cents she was able to sacrifice. With selfless generosity comes indescribable joy. 

WORK //

Today, make a list of a few gifts or skills God has given you. Ask Him to show you how you could use those gifts to be His hands and feet to your community and to the world. You may not realize how your gift of music, art, building, hospitality or conversation (to name just a few!) could touch someone’s life. But God does! Ask Him and He will show you! 

What is one area where you feel like you have very little to give but you could offer even a small amount to God as a gift of faith and love?