When my husband and I were first married, we experienced one of the most impactful acts of generosity. I can remember it like it was yesterday. The day after our wedding, we found ourselves surrounded by boxes in the living room of our small rental apartment, with an overflowing pile of cards heaped over on the couch.
One by one, each envelope unveiled yet another wedding card with a check inside. But it wasn’t until I opened that card things took a dramatic turn. Quite unexpectedly, a check fell out and onto my lap. What was this? My brain literally could not process the dollar amount written on the check. In disbelief, I glared at the number as it glared back at me. Tears began to stream down my face as I stared in complete shock. I felt like my heart was about to burst. How could someone bless us so immensely?
Finally, after about a week of wrestling with my logical brain, I accepted the fact that someone would do such a thing. I no longer needed to mentally pinch myself as a reminder that it was indeed real, regardless of how surreal it felt. Generous people do exist, and I was on the receiving end of that kindness.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone else’s generosity? Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with gratefulness, you couldn’t make sense of it?
The saying holds true; it is better to give than to receive. Those who give, understand the magnitude of the act as well as the joy it brings. Giving is about sharing what we have, not hoarding it for ourselves. As common as this may seem, growing up, the act of giving was more of a foreign concept. For years, I held the mindset of, “I earned it, I deserve it.” Selfishly, I wanted to keep everything I earned. After all, I worked for it, didn’t I? Why should I give it away?
I didn’t realize any potential problem with this type of thinking, which is a problem in and of itself. But slowly, God revealed these ugly parts to me. He showed me the fact that my fists were closed. My greedy mindset didn’t reflect the mind of Christ. How could I hold onto the little money I had so tightly? After all, everything I have comes from Him.
Look, I know airing dirty laundry isn’t exactly glamorous. Quite the contrary. But once I became aware of my sin, I knew I needed to change. My tendency to withhold money began to dissipate. My palms gradually started opening. I started releasing my sinful mindset about money. It wasn’t about me and what I could keep, but rather, what I could give. I started asking questions I never asked before. If God provides for all my needs, my paycheck, my job, my home, my vehicle, and all the other basic essentials, weren’t those things actually His? Wasn’t I simply a steward of all the tangible possessions I owned? Those possessions were merely temporary. I needed to check my heart and be willing to let go of what I had at any time.
Can you relate to any of this?
In my quest to change, I discovered that giving reveals the state of our heart. As a Christ-follower, the act of giving is a response of obedience. When we feel prompted or compelled to give, this is from the Holy Spirit’s conviction. It’s not out of guilt or compulsion. Following through with that prompt is an act of obedience. Our heart is open and receptive to God’s leading, and we give cheerfully
Consider the verse from Ephesians 4: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Do you have something to share? Maybe you are someone who has the capability to bless someone else financially out of your abundance. Or maybe you’re someone who doesn’t have much, but gives with a willing heart anyway because you know it pleases the LORD.
What if we fail to openly share our resources with others? Have you ever asked yourself this question? If this is an area you find yourself struggling with, start with asking yourself why. Why is giving money away so hard? Is it because of fear? Lack of trust? Pride or selfishness? Is excessive wealth your security blanket? Your idol? I’ll be the first to raise my hand and confess that my answer was all of the above.
What is holding you back from letting go of money?
One of my greatest fears is believing the lie that I’ll give more when I have more. This thought scares me because it exposes how faithless I’m capable of becoming. Slowly, God worked on my stingy heart and prompted me to think differently about giving my money away. He brought people in my life who practice generosity well, to teach me to do the same. Financially, do we fulfill our wants and needs first before seeking God’s will for His money?
In closing, we all have something to give, whether it be material resources, time or money. How can God use you to bring Him glory with your finances? God has entrusted you with everything He has given you. What are you going to do with it?