Time and Wisdom
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
2 Corinthians 8:12
Generosity comes in many forms. One version is material gifts. Another is the sharing of our time and wisdom. I (JCD) recall the example of one man who gave up two hours and influenced my life for years. When I was in college, my aunt heard a speech by a well‐known Christian psychologist, Dr. Clyde Narramore. “We need Christian young men and women in the field of mental health,” Dr. Narramore said to the audience. “If you know of promising students who are interested, I’ll be glad to meet with them.” My aunt told me of this invitation, and I called Dr. Narramore for an appointment. He graciously agreed to see me, even though he was busy and didn’t know me from Adam.
As we talked in his living room, he laid out a plan for how I could become a psychologist. It’s been over forty years since that conversation took place, yet I still remember the advice he gave me that day. It shaped the next five years of my life and helped channel me into a profession I love.
You may not have the financial means to help people in need, but you can offer them your time and insights. It may be just what they need to point them in the right direction.
Just between us . . .
• Who has influenced us through their gifts of time and wisdom?
• In what areas do we have expertise, insights, or available time that might help someone else?
• Who do we know who might benefit from our generosity?
Heavenly Father, tonight we reach for a truly generous life together. Guide and strengthen our willingness to share. Thank You for putting us on earth for something bigger and more meaningful than our own comfort or happiness. Amen.
Listen to today's broadcast of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk at OnePlace.com. For more from Dr. Dobson, visit the resource center at drjamesdobson.org.
This devotional is taken from Night Light for Couples. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
