Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

When I began my senior year in high school, I had decided that I wanted to go to college to become an engineer. By that time I had taken all the math my high school had to offer. If calculus was available, it would have really given me a strong foundation entering college. But our school didn’t offer it. It looked like I would spend a year away from math before going to engineering school.

Then steps in my math teacher, Mr. Schondelmeyer. He gave me a calculus book and taught me calculus during his free hour. He saw that the high school was “poor” in math courses, I was “poor” in preparation, and “lent his time” to fill the need, i.e., he taught me calculus during his free hour.

The result – I entered college better prepared, earned an engineering degree, tutored well over 200 students in math and science over the years, and have had the opportunity to start and run a non-profit that offers tutoring and STEM education…all because one man decided to be “generous to the poor”.

Are there any “poor” among you? Is there someone you know who is struggling to make ends meet? Is there someone who has received some challenging medical news and is “poor” in health? Is there a young person in a challenging family situation and is “poor” in wisdom and proper guidance? Is there someone who has recently suffered the loss of a loved one and is “poor” in spirit? Is there someone who feels trapped in life and is “poor” in hope? Maybe you feel “poor” in some way. Regardless of how you feel, being generous with your time, talents and treasure demonstrates the love of God and is blessed by Him.

This Proverb and Jesus (Matthew 25:31-40) guarantee that we will be rewarded by the Father for “lending to the poor”.  Mr. Schondelmeyer never got a chance to see how his “lending to the poor” impacted others in ways he couldn’t have imagined. But at the very least, he was rewarded with a legacy that has, and continues to impact others well beyond his years.

Let that be part of your legacy also.