Sunday, 7th July, 2024
Bible Reading: Acts 9: 36-42
Memory Verse: If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17 (NIV)
She is 93, a former paediatrics professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM). According to Sky News, she joined the medical college in 1968 and researched child learning disabilities and created an adult literacy programme during her time there. She is currently the chair of the Einstein Board of Trustees and serves on the board of the Montefiore Health System, the school’s affiliate hospital. She is the widow of Wall Street investor David “Sandy” Gottesman, who died in 2022 (72 years after the couple married). Her name is Ruth Gottesman. She said her husband left her a whole portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock with instructions to “do whatever you think is right with it”. In her words, “I immediately knew what I wanted to do with the money: “I wanted to fund students at Einstein so that they would receive free tuition.” She went ahead to donate a whopping 1 billion dollars to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), same college where she taught. The donation means that from August Year 2024, all tuition will be free, and final-year students will be reimbursed their tuition fees for the spring term. Today, Ruth Gottesman has become the woman freeing thousands of medical students from $200,000 in debt. Current and future students of the medical school will receive free tuition. Thanks to a $1bn (£78m) donation from Ruth Gottesman – the largest gift of its kind ever given in the US. Lessons1. Do you think her husband would have left such a fortune to her had he known that she spends on frivolities common to most women in her class? Only a good heart will attract a good fortune. 2. She said, “I immediately knew what I wanted to do with the money.” Some of the goodwill your heart is indicting is a burden from the Lord that will manifest in due time. Keep the fire of such holy burdens burning.3. Forbes estimated Mr Gottesman was worth $3bn at the time of his death. He was an early investor in Warren Buffet’s multinational conglomerate and sat on the company’s board. He also built the Wall Street investment house First Manhattan. No one truly becomes wealthy without having sustainable investment.4. Think transgenerational. What will you do to promote the kingdom of God and bless humanity during and beyond your life time?Quote: God’s vision always attracts God’s provisions.Prophetic Decree: Receive grace to live beyond yourself, in Jesus name.Prayer Focus1. I receive grace to develop capacity worthy of becoming a kingdom treasurer, in Jesus name. 2. I break the grip of selfishness in my life, in Jesus name.3. I receive grace to submit my ALL – my heart, thoughts, money, life – totally unto Jesus, in Jesus name. 4. I repent of anyway I have disappointed the investment of heaven over me for self-gratifications, in Jesus name. 5. O Lord, when you are looking for kingdom treasurers, please remember me, in Jesus name. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jonah 1-4