BEYOND / Generosity: A Journey without a Destination

A Story from the Beggs Family

I was fortunate enough to grow up with a generosity role model.  My grandfather, Richard Beggs Sr., was an extremely generous man in all aspects of the 3 T’s.  Time, Talent and Treasure!  His involvement in his church and his community was admirable.  I always knew that I should strive to emulate him, but progress was slow until 10 years ago.
I was invited to attend a Bible study, which was something that was very outside of my comfort zone at that time in my life.  I ultimately decided to go and without a doubt it changed the course of my life as it relates to generosity.  We were studying the book of James. In James 2:15-17 it says:  If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.  These verses were the catalyst I needed to focus my life outward and not inward, and to use my spiritual and financial gifts to benefit others.
Generosity is a journey and not a destination, and I am clearly early on this journey.  I hope to continue to push out the boundaries of my current generosity and to live a life of abundance, not scarcity, and trust that God will provide.
The Beyond Capital Campaign at Good Shepherd is another step in the journey of God testing my generosity and I pray that I am able to pass the test and continue on the path of living up to the high standards of my generosity role model.

Bob, Ronda and their three daughters (Allison, Amanda, Ava) have been members since 2017. Bob works as an equity portfolio manager.