Warning: I’m writing this during my class . . . so it’s pretty rough, chopped thoughts and prayers.
In class right now we are studying 1 & 2 Corinthians. Tonight we highlighted a topic we never usually like to discuss: Money
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:6-8.
What is challenging me is this: I am a faithful follower of the tithe. And praise God for that. My parents, from a young age, instilled in me the importance of giving systematically and generously to God, using the guideline of 10% (the tithe). What I’m challenged with is this: Nowhere in the New Testament does it talk about giving 10%. Our professor said that if we actually added up all the different Old Testament requirements for giving (sacrifices, etc), the total would be more like approximately 23.8-24%. Wow. Ok, I’ll be right up front. I do not give that much. And of course I don’t have to. Our professor emphasized (and our pastor at Foothills emphasizes as well) that 10% is a great place to start, but do we challenge ourselves in that area? Do I challenge myself in this area? Am I content to give my 10% and leave it at that? But am I missing out on greater blessing because I’m not willing to challenge myself in this area?
And, as I sit here, my husband reminds me that the question is not how much should I give, but how much should I keep? It’s all God’s! Do I consider that all my money is God’s and I should ask Him exactly how much to keep and the money that I keep, do I ask God exactly how I should spend it? Ugh. This is too convicting.
Dr. Kim (our professor) emphasized that we need to be careful not to look around and be critical of those who have great riches (or those who are poor!). It is key to understand that God gives to those who are gracious, so we had better not criticize those believers who have been blessed financially because they might possibly be the most generous people! On the other hand, we should be careful not to assume that just because we don’t have a lot of money, that God is punishing us or not blessing us. If we have money, that is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor. On the one hand, God may give us money if He can entrust us to give it generously. But, He also may choose to give me little, even if I am faithful. Our financial status is not a sign of our spirituality.
You can have nothing and be greedy, and you can have everything and be generous, and vice versa. It is an issue of the heart. The ONLY evidence that we are not materialistic is if we are willing to give away what we have. It doesn’t have to do with how much we have, but whether we willing to give it away.
Give to what God wants. Test Him! Why do I have such a hard time in this area? Why can’t I let go? Because I don’t trust Him. That’s why. Because I don’t trust Him. That is the cold hard truth that I hate to admit. Give. Give it away.
I have to admit that money has a hold on me. It was easier to be “generous” when I felt like we had plenty of money. But now, that neither of us have jobs and we are living on our quickly dwindling savings, I now think that I have to “hold on” to what we have and don’t have as much flexibility and freedom to be generous. That is garbage! Just because we have less in our savings account doesn’t mean that God has any less in His. So what does this look like? I’m challenged and a little confused all at once. I want to be a good steward and not make foolish financial decisions, but the poor widow giving her last two mites did not make the most sense financially. And yet, I dare say that God will bless her beyond measure.
This especially hits home in our current situation. In fact, while we are sitting here in class, I was actually fiddling around on my excel spreadsheet, trying to figure out how we’re going to make this all work, living on our savings. Ouch! How convicting. I have to admit that I don’t know how it will all work, but I also know that are following God, and that He is faithful and has always been faithful to provide for our ever need. So how do we know how much to give, how much to save, how much to spend? How do we know what the future holds? What will happen next year? How will it all work out?
The answer? My professor is saying it right now. Prayer. Wisdom. Discernment. A free and willing heart. Willing to give it all. Waiting on God to show me where to give and what to give and how to give. God please help me to hold all that we have with an open hand. Help me to be generous. Help me to be free from the hold that money has on me. Help me to hear from you. Give me the courage to trust You with our finances and trust You enough to give away more than we can “afford” to. Help me to trust You with our future, even though I don’t know how it’s all going to work out. Thank you, Lord, that You are our provider and that You know all things that we need. I love you, Father.