Are you willing to give your all to God, and let him have access to ALL of your time, ALL of your resources and money, ALL of your relationships, ALL of your dreams.
Are you willing to give extravagantly?
1Just then [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. 2Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. 3He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. 4All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” Luke 21:1-4 MSG
What got the attention of Jesus wasn’t the amount given, but the heart behind the gift; she gave her all. The widow gave what she needed. She gave when she had every reason not to give. The rich people gave what they would never miss.
Sometimes giving hurts. It stretches us in areas we didn’t think could stretch any more. Maybe the pain of stretching is increasing our capacity to be a greater vessel for God to work through.
Duncan and I have often had to make the decision, when there is more month than money, to tithe anyway. We also have made the decision to continue sowing where God has told us to sow. We don’t pull back when it doesn’t look like there will be enough money for the bills ahead. We honor God first. God always takes care of us. We give when it hurts.
I am not advocating that we all go out and give everything away today. I am advocating that we trust God, and give him access and permission to do with ‘our’ resources whatever he wants, trusting that he will also take care of us.
Duncan and I have also learned that when we are struggling financially to look for opportunities to sow into a person or ministry. (Of course also looking to where we can ‘tighten our belts’ and be better stewards.) We have learned that these times are great opportunities for God to stretch us, increasing our capacity to be faithful and generous with ALL that He has given us.
This is about more than giving the 10% and keeping the 90%. It is giving God whatever he asks today. It is about changing our attitude about the 90% – and realizing that also belongs to God, and a good steward will have it ready when the master wants to use it.
If you don’t already, I would encourage you to begin tithing to your local church. Study the Bible on first fruits and tithing. As you tithe, study, and gain revelation on this principle you will never want to stop!
Thanks for reading!
Annie
