God’s been teaching me a lot about giving lately, about dishing out all of the stuff that He’s blessed me with because ultimately it’s not mine anyway – it’s His. Too many times in my life I want to hoard all of the stuff that God’s blessed me with because He gave it to ME… not him or her or you. And then I’m suddenly struck with the reality that I need to get over myself.
This is a far too common scenario for all of us: do you ever hate it when they pass the offering plate down the row at church on Sunday mornings? Typically the pastor or someone else equally important makes their way onto the platform, gives some kind of monologue about how it’s really a good thing to tithe – when oftentimes they’re not even convinced themselves – and then they piously bless the giving, announce that’ll go towards God’s glory, and then people put their money into the offering plate like a vending machine, praying ever-so viciously that God will bless them with an enormous return (or a decent tax write-off).
But if you’re like me, you just sit there and squirm in your seat.
While everyone’s busy shuffling through their purses or digging wallets out of their back pocket, you just sit there motionless… praying that no one’s going to judge you for not giving. Then in the back of your mind you hope that they think what you think, that you just tithe once a month or that you sponsor a Compassion child or something.
And then it happens: next thing you know the offering plate’s making its way down your row! You eye it suspiciously and are so paralyzed by fear that you can’t even raise your arm to grab it and help pass the thing the rest of the way down. And then you’re certain that everyone is judging you – that they’re convinced you think tithes and offerings are evil and just the Church’s way of weaseling some money out of you.
Or maybe this is just me.
Like I said, God’s been teaching me a lot about giving. This is due in part because of the community up in Port Huron; they have much of nothing (in worldly value) yet they seem to give everything. It’s pretty inspirational and I think it could provoke a person to write a story about it or something… In the last two weeks I decided it’s finally time to start tithing my money, even though I don’t receive much of an income (currently I have NO income), I figure every month I’ll give 20% of what’s in my checking account. Needless to say – the Church didn’t receive much from me this month, but every little bit counts, eh?
You might be wondering what’s really provoked me to give.
Well, when I was sitting in the kitchen the other day listening to the Lord speak at the wee hours of the morning, He highlighted a particular Scripture. Now, the whole concept of giving had already been on my heart, but I didn’t talk to God about it because then He might ask me to do something. What He showed me was engrained subtly into Scripture, but it stood out like a red rose in the white snow:
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Lk. 12.32,34).
Yeah – how often do we literally go pawn something off just so we can see that the homeless lady down on the street corner gets a meal? Or how often do we bypass the Starbucks for one week just to see that the rowdy college guy who lives next door gets some help with his rent? I think a lot of Christians would probably argue and say that Jesus wasn’t meaning this ‘literally’, but I would sit there and argue that, that particular Christian is just creating excuses to hang onto their fancy little iPod; granted, they’re just going to toss it one day to upgrade to the fancier one.
I just don’t get it – but I’ve been more inspired to give because I don’t want my heart to be captive to my mp3 player or anything else material and worldly… or delicious like a White Chocolate Mocha. I want to invest my heart and I want to invest my treasure into the Kingdom.
Do you?
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Now I have to throw a “materialistic” sidebar in here because it relates to giving and it’s just an awesome story. I have been praying for multiple months for a new laptop, particularly, a MacBook. I bargained with God and swore that I would steward it well, use it for Kingdom purposes, etc. I heard the Lord speak to me and say He would provide one for me – for free. Over the course of this last weekend – guess what? – that’s right, I got a MacBook for free from some new, dear friends up in Port Huron. An answer to prayer? I think so! Thank you Doug and Carrie!
Another sidebar: I’m looking for ministry partners. If you’re interested in giving towards this ministry so I can be supported throughout it – please consider giving HERE.
