James Yao

As a self-proclaimed rule follower, James has taken a fairly conservative-minded approach to generosity and his finances. He’s understood that God calls him to give ten percent and he has spent most of life following that rule and not thinking much about giving until something changed. James and his wife Melissa started to look back on their lives and recognize how much God had blessed them. 

From the random insurance settlement to a discounted first home, James realized that the biggest financial blessings of his life weren’t planned, predicted, or prepared by him. God had chosen to bless his family and give him opportunities to be faithful in generosity. He watched as people around him modeled a cheerful spirit when blessing others and he wanted that for his family too. 

As a result, he sat down with Melissa and did two things. First, they started budgeting generosity above and beyond their ten percent and, second, they started praying for God to open their eyes to the needs around them. As they prepared for generosity, they started to see opportunities all around them. 

One couple in particular used a gift from James to buy their son a guitar. At first, James and Melissa wondered if it was a waste of money but years later, that child has grown up and leads worship on a weekly basis. Now, anytime they see him lead, they’re reminded of God’s faithfulness to them and they celebrate the opportunity to support someone’s story. They’ve chosen to live with the philosophy that God has blessed them so they’re called to bless others. 

James would tell you that he used to pinch pennies and it set him up well, but it didn’t lead to a life of financial freedom or generosity. Now, his stewardship equips his family to say yes when the Holy Spirit leads them to give.