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 | "How's it going?" If you ask some people that question they're likely to connect the contents of their wallet with their outlook on life. I have been guilty of this too. Turns out I'm learning a great deal through the avenue of financial struggles to dwell less on money. As Dennis and I struggle to make ends meet (two teenage daughters need I say more?) we are finally discovering the importance of owning what you have and not letting what you have own you. I've always been one to believe strongly in giving money to the Lord's work and still believe it is not only our responsibility, but our privilege.
During this crunch I have gained a new insight on giving especially after hearing some compelling yet misguided arguments from behind more than one pulpit as they petition for money like they were asking for an insurance premium. This is a sad way to convince God's people to support the ministry. The biggest fallacy I see in that is that if you have to 'scare' people into giving they miss the biggest blessing of all. Giving to the kingdom of God is the only way to leave a living legacy. It is the sweetest investment on the planet. Because of some tremendous changes in our financial situation I have had to scale back drastically what I have been giving to the church but this is only temporary. I am giving everything I can and stand in faith that soon I will become financially soluble enough to give ridiculously. |
To quantify myself, I do believe when you are faithful in giving you enable the Lord to open more blessings upon your life. This is law of sowing and reaping. There is catch here though. Even the best gardener can jinx his crop by adding harmful substances into his newly plowed and planted soil. Just add the wrong additive to the soil and see what happens. When we plant our financial seeds solely as a way to motivate God to move on our behalf, we add in a harmful ingredient. The wrong additivate can stunt growth or even worse kill your crops.
I was recently reminded of some general gardening facts when my son Andrew performed an experiment in school. When you garden, there are three needs of a seed: Warmth, Water, and Air. Remove any of those needs and the plant dies. When we limit our giving to financial giving we are likewise holding back two of the other basic needs for growth. We must give physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Our money represents our physical giving because we physically labor to earn the money we give. Next, by maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus we are giving spiritually of ourselves. Finally when we remain in fellowship with the Body we are freely giving of ourselves emotionally. These three 'needs' are vital as we tend our garden if we want to see true lasting growth.
Once growth begins to occur remember there are more threats to a harvest than just the basic needs. Insects, crows, weather, and disaese can bring significant harm to a young tender sprout so we must be on guard to watch for outside forces to rob us of our harvest.
When we see giving in this respect there is a release knowing we can always give to God no matter what our checking account register says. If you are low on cash, be faithful to give something and then ratchet up your giving in other areas. God loves a cheerful giver, right? Our best offering is comprised of all three areas of giving. I am so excited about going to church to bring my offering. God will be so tickled that I have brought my best.
I will close with this quote from Sir Francis Bacon:
"If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him."
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