The Generosity of God
An interesting proverb is found in Isaiah 32:8:
A generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.
It’s wonderful for people to be known for their generosity; yet this verse also describes God—for as John 3:16 tells us,
God so loved the world that He gave...
God is generous and plans generous acts.
We see this in the story of the poor widow who tells Elisha she has nothing but a jar of oil. He answers,
“Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all of your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few” (2 Kings 4:3)
It’s a step of faith for her to scour the neighborhood for empty vessels. Yet when she obeys, a miracle occurs. She pours out the oil, filling all the empty jars.
If we are expecting God to do a miracle, He is expecting us to do our part to have the faith to build the vessels for Him to fill.
I love to tell the story of CBN’s first bank account. My father had filed the articles of incorporation for CBN, although he had virtually nothing. He wanted to have a vessel for God to fill—such as a bank account. So he went to a bank near the TV station that God had told him to claim in Portsmouth, Virginia. After he filled out the forms and picked out the checks, the clerk told him, “It’s customary to make an initial deposit.”
He only had $3.25 in his pocket, and he needed a quarter to pay the toll home—so he gave her the three wrinkled dollar bills. Smiling sweetly, she said, “The checks cost $6.” Dad quickly asked, “Can I have that on account?” For some reason, she agreed. And as I look at CBN’s ministry today, I see how much has come from that negative $3 deposit!
Each of us should construct vessels for God to fill—in our lives, our personal finances, and what we want from God for the future. When we start with so little, He gets all the glory. He is the one who calls us, saves us, inspires us, enables us, and provides for us.
The most precious thing we have is time, and the best way to invest it is preaching the Gospel to every nation, tribe and tongue. We want to spend our time on things that will lead to great joy in heaven.
Isaiah 61:11 promises,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Some plant while others water or weed, but it is always God who gives the increase.
~
Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About The Author
GORDON ROBERTSON is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network, as well as a member of CBN’s Board of Directors. He is also Chancellor of Regent University and the Chairman of the Board of Operation Blessing, CBN’s humanitarian organization.
The son of Pat and Dede Robertson, Gordon graduated from Yale University in 1980 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University in 1984. He then practiced law in Norfolk, Virginia, for 10 years.
In 1994, Gordon had a profound encounter with the Lord and moved to the Philippines, where he established CBN Asia. The following year, he founded the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), dedicated to training and sending Asian missionaries throughout the world. ACM is now one of the largest missionary agencies in the Philippines with more than 2,000 graduates trained in cross-cultural missions.
In 1996, Gordon created CBN Asia’s flagship television show, The 700 Club Asia, which is now one of the longest-running Christian television shows in the Philippines and is distributed by satellite around the world. Also in 1996, CBN Asia started a humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing Philippines, which has been recognized as “NGO of the Year” by the Philippine government.
Over the next three years, Gordon launched CBN centers in Indonesia, India, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Thailand. He moved back to the United States in 1999 to serve at CBN’s headquarters in Virginia Beach.
As Executive Producer of The 700 Club, Gordon oversees all aspects of programming for the ministry. He hosts CBN’s original flagship program, The 700 Club; as well as 700 Club Interactive, a daily show airing on Freeform and online; and Miracle Living Today.
Gordon has produced a number of documentaries and features as Executive Producer of CBN Films, including:
- Oracles of God: The Story of the New Testament
- Oracles of God: The Story of the Old Testament
- Written in Stone four-part series: House of David, Kings and Prophets, Secrets of the Temple, and Jesus of Nazareth
- The Asbury Awakening
- I Am Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland
- Treasures of the Second Temple
- Christmas: The Story Behind the Traditions
- To Life: How Israeli Volunteers Are Changing the World
- In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem
- The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel
- Whose Land Is It? Jewish and Arab Claims to Israel
- Made in Israel
- Temple of Heaven, filmed in China
Gordon is also Executive Producer of CBN Animation’s Superbook, the reimagined animation series. Its guiding mission is to bring the stories of the Bible to the children of the world in their own languages. With over 65 episodes completed, Superbook has been broadcast to millions of viewers in dozens of languages throughout the world. Other Superbook-themed videos are also being produced and released.
Gordon and his wife, Katharyn, reside in Virginia and have three grown children.
