Dear Family,
This week has been exciting to say the least. I opened a can of worms that I think God had been waiting for me to open. It was like sniffing smelling salts before your reps at the gym — immediately I got so much clarity.
I started digging and praying for answers and they started coming. Hard. Chastising me, you know, like a true father would when you aren't acting right. And that's what I needed.
I don't know about you, but that's how I've viewed God — as a real father, not some figure in the sky, but a parent guiding and mentoring me. And I willingly give Him the authority to correct, discipline, and adjust me any time. Most people see it as scary, but it's all love. He wants the best for us.
Plus, being so far from home, my biological father isn't there to correct me. So His correction is the best thing I can have. I'd go as far as to say He loves us more.
Well, of course that's not what this letter is about. It's just my usual — to tell you about my week and open each letter with something about Christ Jesus.
Because, well, with my life I commit to tithing. Yes, tithing. Whatever percentage you choose, but it goes first. When I wake up, I pray first. When I work out, I give glory to God because I'm healthy and can. When I get paid, I don't set it aside because I don't trust me — I'm naturally selfish. Actually, I tithe online immediately.
And when I write these letters, because I'm so blessed to be able to and I feel He called me to this and has given me this gift, I give Him the first portion of each letter before I talk about myself.
Yeah, you might think it's a bit much. And I'm sure most of the family didn't even make it this far because of the context of this letter. They read what it was about and stopped because they can't see how they can benefit.
But that's exactly what this letter is about. YOU benefiting.
What if I told you that in all of my travels, I've come to befriend many people of some sort of success, and they in fact have many traits in common and many beliefs that they share? How they live, where they live, their environment, their health.
But one thing stuck out to me early in my journey that I realized wasn't a secret. It was something we are taught all too much, but our selfish and skeptical hearts won't let us embrace and enjoy the fruits of its labor.
The trait? Well, they are all beyond generous.
I've got 3 quick ways I want to bring this home in the form of an argument that we aren't used to. Here's #1:
Remember that night we all went out to eat? It was all the cousins, momma, and some of our friends. That bill had to be about $800, and lowkey we had no business spending that money, but I guess that's just what we did when those tax checks came in.
Anyways, we had a blast. At least until that check came to the table. Felt like a dark cloud stole the joy right off our plates.
I looked over at auntie and she was pissed, pulling her card out. I saw her and the other adults talking. I read her lips. She said, "Hell no, I can't afford to tip." They all laughed and agreed.
The check came back. She signed it and we left.
But I never forgot that moment.
As you know, I spent almost a decade serving tables before I recently decided to officially trust God and bet on myself. Seemed like fate caught up with me because that story became one I'd relive from the other side of the experience.
And though it hurt, I'll let you in on what hurt more. It wasn't that I needed the money. It was the mindset behind the people who thought that way.
Why?
Because the idea is "I can't afford to tip." But what I've found from my successful friends is that actually you can't afford NOT to tip.
I operate under the belief that you can't tip because you don't tip. Yeah, let that sink in.
You think it's about service, but being generous is rule number 1 in generating wealth. We walk around so stingy, holding on tight to all we got. Even if God wanted to bless you with more, He couldn't put it in your hand because you have them closed tight in fists, holding on to the little you have.
I know this will wreck you, but hear what I am saying:
IF YOU WANT MORE, THEN BE MORE GENEROUS.
And as for the restaurant? Yes, I know service sucks sometimes. Maybe the food sucked or there was a little racism. (If you look for it, you'll find it, but that's for another letter.)
If that's the case, do what I do. I get selfish.
If the service sucks, I get generous for my blessing. Or I tip with forgiveness — that maybe this person is just having a rough day. That way I'm giving generously with money and I'm giving grace.
We laugh at other cultures for their patience and generosity, thinking they do it because they have it. But I'm going to challenge that belief and dare you to start thinking they have it now because they did it first.
And that's the reality, that's the first bottleneck to you breaking the cycle.
And my last little 20% tip to you is being generous isn't about the money. Yes, you'll be blessed 10 fold, but it does something to your heart, your energy, and mind. You start to think differently. You invite opportunities to you. People begin to show up being generous to you.
But unfortunately grandma will disagree, but God made things law of the land and this is one of them. And it means you can't pray your way to freedom or do good deeds to bypass a selfish heart. Even those of us that know scripture backwards and forwards by heart have to submit to the laws of the land.
That's why you see some people get rich and seemingly don't believe in Christ. Cause welllll. The laws can be followed whether you're a believer or not, but let's save that for rule #2.
And that's where I'll stop this one. I know, I know, but you should know by now I will always leave some meat on the bone with the letters and stop abruptly. It's my style, ask Bek. But I will give you my word that the next two letters following will bring this idea together.
#2 will be the next letter.
Be on the lookout. And if you dare to take my challenge, give it some time and tell me how it's impacted your life.
TTYL.
— Earl
P.S.: heres a yahoo article on 8 ways its helps you build wealth https://finance.yahoo.com/news/8-reasons-generosity-wealthy-according-130044928.html
