How do you know when you are doing the right thing?

I’ve been asked that question many times. I suppose they may have been looking for some complex philosophical answer, but it really is simple.

When you are doing something right, people want to be a part of it. When you are doing wrong, people want no part of you.

Who you are radiates into the world around you. Those good or bad feelings repel or attract people and good or bad things to your life.

Look at your life and you’ll know if you are doing the right thing.

Recently when I spoke in Atlanta at the Ark of Salvation Church, I knew I was doing the right thing for many reasons. But God spoke to a wonderful woman in the audience and she followed through on what He told her to do.

It’s a humbling experience to be the recipient of God’s will for me. Kind words spoken after I have shared my thoughts with an audience and generous praise written in an email after I have written a story, are all difficult for me to accept.

But this woman was told to give me all the money she had with her that night. God spoke to her during my talk and told her to do it.

“Give all your money to Bob.”

Me!

I immediately told her I couldn’t accept it. I was so uncomfortable with the idea that I immediately rejected it.

“But God told me to give you this. It isn’t much. But I must follow what He has told me to do,” she said. “I will be blessed a thousand times for this in many ways.”

I heard in my head “And you must permit her to do it!”

“Okay, but I’ll give it to Pastor Bronner,” I said.

“No, this is for you!” Was her reply.

But I took it with every intention to give it to him any way.

After church I approached him, told him the story and he refused to take it.

“She responded to God’s will and it is yours,” he said.

I have given it away a hundred times ever since I received it from her. I mean it. I just stood up from writing this message to you to make sure it was still there in my wallet. It was.

Like the tax refund you plan on getting, you spend it over and over.

“We’ll pay off that loan when we get the refund.”

“You know I think we need to fix that fence in the back. We’ll use the refund.”

“Well, this broke down at just the right time. I’ll fix it and use the refund to pay for it.”

I have done the same with this money. I have given things away because I had the extra money. I have made cash donations because I had the extra money. And just the other day I went to the store and bought toys for ten children and placed them in the “Toys for Tots” box.

All with the extra money.

How much was it? $52.00 Everything this woman had with her that night.

God told her to give it to me and I have given it away over and over again. The original $52.00 remains in my wallet and until God tells me to take it and pass it on, it will remain there.

Like God, the Source of all things, His abundance never ends. She responded to God. I humbly accepted it and through some very difficult financial times for me recently, it has remained a source and provided for many.

Like the bread and fish.

My friend, whom I believe receives this message, your gift has done wonders. (still) Your trust in God, your faith has multiplied this $52.00 and continues to do so.

Here’s my challenge to you. Take whatever amount of money you can spare even if you can’t spare it right now. Place it in your purse or wallet somewhere separate from your spending money. Ask God to multiply it by providing opportunities to do something good for someone else. Then don’t touch it, but spend the abundance that comes from it.

That’s faith. That’s knowing that what you are doing is the right thing.

“Fifty two times…?”

Bob Perks Bob@BobPerks.com