In college, I was challenged by the story of John Wesley. I had just begun to experience a living relationship with God the year before. I was undisciplined in giving 2 percent of my income, much less tithing 10 percent.
By the end of his life, John Wesley was known for living on 10 percent of his income and giving 90 percent of his income. Wesley lived in the 1700s and was greatly impacted by an event that occurred while he was a student at Oxford. After purchasing some pictures for his room on a cold winter day, he noticed that one of the housekeepers had nothing to protect herself from the cold except a thin garment. When he reached into his pocket to give her some money to buy a coat, he found he didn’t have enough left to pay for a coat. Immediately, he thought how God was not pleased with the way he had spent his money. He asked himself, “Will my Master say, ‘Well done, good and faithful steward?’ You have adorned your walls with the money which might have protected this poor woman from the cold. O justice. O mercy. Are not these pictures the blood of this poor maid?”
From that day on, Wesley determined to maintain his standard of living at the same level and give away everything above that threshold. At that time, with earnings of 30 pounds and living expenses at 28 pounds, he gave away two pounds. When his earnings increased to 60 pounds, he gave away 32. As they increased to 120 pounds, he continued to live on 28 and give away 92 pounds. Wesley became known for his saying: “What should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living, but his standard of giving.”
He continued this practice his entire life. Even when his income reached 1,400 pounds, he lived on 30 pounds and gave the rest away. Because Wesley had a fear of laying up treasures on earth, the money went out in charity as quickly as it came in. He reports that he never had 100 pounds at any one time.
When I heard about John Wesley’s life, that level of giving was so foreign to me. You might as well have said John Wesley was one of the angels in heaven. I couldn’t comprehend how that could happen on earth. I’m sure you’ve heard similar stories. These stories can be very convict-ing. I remember feeling frustrated because the story didn’t include a “how to” manual. That’s why I am determined for this book to be a very practical “how to” guide.
DECIDING IN ADVANCE
Audacious generosity is about determining in ADVANCE what you are going to do with what God puts into your hands.
— From pages 194–196 in Audacious Generosity by Kevin White
John Wesley
About Audacious Generosity…
Given the choice, every one of us wants to be more generous, but fear holds us back. Audacious Generosity shows you how to exchange any sense of pressure and regret about giving for genuine confidence and satisfaction.
With Audacious Generosity, God is the Giver, and giving depends on what God puts into your hands. Gone are the days where you feel pressured to be the giver. Instead, Audacious Generosity will empower you to give limitlessly — as God gives through you.
By reading this book, you will learn to enjoy a living relationship with God that’s fueled by courage, characterized by freedom, and overflowing with audacious generosity. As God combines courage and freedom in your life, you will experience, receive, and give more than you ever thought possible. See what happens when you open our hands to God and commit in advance to use what He puts into our hands to fulfill His mission.
For full details please visit https://kevinwhite.us
About Kevin White…
Twenty years ago, Kevin White needed food for his family. God said, “Feed others and your family will eat too.” Today the organization Kevin founded, With Love From Jesus Ministries continues to distribute millions of dollars a year in needed resources to high need populations. Kevin’s family never missed a meal, and Kevin went from barely surviving to thriving through Audacious Generosity.
For ten years, Kevin has been the Founder/Executive Director of Global Hope India a mission organization to Indian Nationals. He’s traveled to India fifty times hosting a thousand people on mission trips.
Kevin and his wife, Shelly, have three adult children and one grandchild. They live in Cary, North Carolina.
For full details please visit https://kevinwhite.us
About Kevin White
Kevin White is a Christian pastor, international speaker, and an international best-selling author. As a writer, Kevin’s newest book, Audacious Generosity, is a best new Christian Book of 2020. Audacious Generosity was an instant international best seller in India and the United States of America. Audacious Generosity is the New Book to Read in 2021. Look for it among Christianity books on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Kevin’s why for life is to extend access to Jesus to all people world-wide. Kevin loves to motivate people how to encounter the presence of God in their everyday life.
As a seasoned entrepreneur, Kevin has started and helped start hundreds of businesses, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Kevin is an expert in church leadership and business development. Kevin’s shepherd’s heart can be seen in his speaking and writing. He integrates Biblical principles and worship into everything he does. Kevin’s strategy is to help people transform into the likeness of Jesus. Find more from Kevin White including his blog, podcast shows, YouTube Channel, and Generously Blessed 1MM One Minute Motivational Series at https://kevinwhite.us
About Global Hope India
Kevin White is the Founder/Executive Director of Global Hope India, a Christian mission organization focused on sharing the gospel in India and among Indian Nationals world-wide. We facilitate virtual mission teams to India and short-term mission teams in-person in India. These teams empower the church in India with pastoral training, youth pastor training, children’s ministry, church planting strategy, church planting ministry, and medical missions.
Global Hope India is a Christian charity that raises funds for India. 92% of every dollar given benefits gospel outreach projects in India such as church planting, orphan care, clean water projects, bibles, medical clinics, etc. Our partners in India serve the Baptist mission in India, Church of God in India as well as independent Christian churches. We do one thing – advance the gospel in India. We do it in one way – through the local church in India. Join us today by praying for India, giving to God’s work in India and going virtually or in person to make disciples in India. Find out more information at https://globalhopeindia.org
