Do Good: Generosity is Good Business (Guest Blogger Rev. Larry Davies)

Ed worked for many years as a night watchman at VUMAC, a conference center in Blackstone, Virginia. Several years ago he opened The Acorn, a coffee shop inside the same building. The Acorn provides good coffee, snacks, books, and other products. While there you can relax and read a newspaper, watch the news or an occasional sporting event. I make it a priority to visit The Acorn several times each day while I’m there. I do like the coffee, but I really enjoy talking to Ed.

So do a lot of other people. Every time I stop by, The Acorn is packed with people, and Ed is usually in the midst of the crowd, pouring coffee, telling stories, and being a gracious host.

Recently, I was at VUMAC for a conference. As much as I appreciated the teaching, the real lesson and inspiration was inside The Acorn:

Ed pulled me aside to tell me that he is struggling with cancer. He received a new diagnosis that the cancer was upgraded from stage two to stage three. The chemo treatments were getting intense, and he was struggling to be at the coffee shop every day.

Together in the coffee shop, we prayed for God to give Ed comfort and strength for what lies ahead. Afterward, with a trace of tears in his eyes, Ed talked about God restoring his life and family. In the midst of illness, he continued to receive encouragement from his church, family, and friends. “I cried, when I heard the news,” he admitted. “But my family and I have been richly blessed.”

On the last day of the conference, Ed called me over, handed me a one hundred dollar bill and said, “Larry, please give this to the people in charge, to become a part of their offering.”

“Ed, what a generous gift. Thank you. But why?”

I will never forget his reply: “I always give a portion of whatever I make back to God. I made $400, so I want to give $100 back.”

How can a person in a struggling business and battling cancer persevere with such a generous spirit?

Paul wrote about the witness of people like Ed:

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone … ” (Galatians 6:7-10)

Here is what I learned:

• Don’t be misled—you can’t mock the justice of God.
• You will harvest what you plant whether in business or your personal life.
• Live to please God; you will harvest everlasting life.
• So, don’t tire of doing good. Don’t give up.
• Therefore, do good for everyone whenever you have the opportunity.

I enjoyed the conference and received valuable information but the greatest lesson of all came from a kind, good-hearted soul named Ed who taught me the true meaning of faith and generosity. Ed was an astute business leader who understood what Paul meant to live to please God, to never tire of doing good, to never give up.

“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone …”

So, say a prayer for Ed and his family. And, if you are ever at VUMAC in Blackstone, Virginia, stop by The Acorn, ask for a cup of coffee and tell Ed, “Larry sent me.”

About Larry Davies

Larry Davies is currently the Lynchburg, Virginia District Superintendent for 89 United Methodist Churches. He has been the pastor of small, medium, and large churches. For many years, Larry managed and trained sales people in the automobile business. He is also the author of Live the Light: Five Weeks to a Light that Shines and three other books. Larry is the founder of Sowing Seeds of Faith, a worldwide prayer ministry and writing ministry, www.SowingSeedsofFaith.com. His columns and blog posts appear in several newspapers, magazines, and websites. Larry is a graduate of Virginia Tech and received his Master of Divinity at Duke University. Mell, Larry’s wife, recently retired from Concord Elementary School. Larry’s oldest son Stephen is married to Brandy, and they have a one-year-old bundle of energy, Jackson. Larry’s daughter Lisa is engaged to be married to Bobby. He and Mell also have a lively but older Springer Spaniel named Daisy.