As I wondered out loud to the Lord what I might have, if anything, for me to share about giving, He reminded me about a situation we encountered while on a motorcycle in Houston Texas. So here’s the story.
Quite a few years ago I won a chance to compete in a shrimp eating contest in Houston. After entering my short message on “Why I am the best seafood lover in the south” they picked me! We decided that we didn’t want to fly we wanted to ride the motorcycle. In the middle of July no less, we did just that. We were headed to the place for the contest and stopped at a convenience store for a soft drink. I also bought a lottery ticket for fun. (I do not recommend buying lottery tickets and I’m not proud of that, but this is part of the story…) There was a young adult man on a bicycle there and he was upset because he didn’t have enough money for a drink. So Danny went inside to buy him one. As we started to ride away I saw the young man throw the coke down on the pavement. I was furious! Danny had wasted that good money on someone who didn’t even care. What a waste! About that time I heard God speak to my heart. “He wasted His money on a person.” Right then I realized that I hadn’t minded a bit spending $2 on a stupid lottery ticket that gave zero in return. But Danny spent money to help someone out. He was going to receive a heavenly return. Not because the man was grateful or kind or had a complete change of life, but because Danny knew God’s Word “As much as you have done unto the least of these…”
Oh beloved, it’s so important to know that giving is the greatest gift we have. Every time we sow we reap. Every single time. Whatever you are lacking this morning God wants you to know that as you sow into your lack He will multiply it providentially. Every time you give more than you think you can, He covers it all for you. Every time you put an offering, give a love gift, a kind word, a forgiveness, an encouragement – these things are multiplied back to you. Trust God today and let Him be the Lord of your giving. Give generously, give often and give without counting whether the recipient is worth it or not. As you and I learn to trust God with our “stuff” we learn to trust his providence and provision even more!
God loves you and He’s for you! Whether you’ve got a dollar or a smile, give it all you have because someone needs to know that God loves them and cares about them as well! Rejoice in your ability to be a free hearted giver as you live in the Light of His magnificent supply!
Luke 6: 38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Proverbs 19: 17 “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.”
2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”