You Can’t Out Give God!

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Sacrificial Giving. That was the topic last week. The article ended with a challenge to try and out give God. Did any of you put God to the test?

In a world where everything evolves around ME… what I think, what I want, what I can do, who I think I am, what I believe to be true, etc… Those of us who believe in the risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, need to remember it’s not about us at all. It’s all about HIM!

Due to Covid and our political situation, people live in fear, even many “believing” Christians I know. But we are told not to fear. Jesus told us tribulation, difficult times, will come. All through history Christians have been targeted because of their faith in Jesus Christ. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Cheer means comfort or encouragement, a shout of approval (The American Heritage Dictionary). Wikipedia says it involves countenance or expression and indicates approval or welcome.

Today I don’t want to write about fear and struggles, but I mention it here because many Christians who live in fear have exchanged giving for hording. Yes, we are to prepare for the future, but not stop supporting the church, Christian organizations, or even helping out those in need on a regular basis. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 instructs in times as these, “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.” Not only does He give joy in giving when we continue to be faithful, but He gives an awesome abundance. Let me explain.

Keeping a budget has been a practice of mine since High School. Thank you, Mr. Holmer (our High School teacher who taught us how to keep a budget)! In Austria, with the fluctuating exchange rate, I never knew how much I would actually get from my paycheck, or if it would even be enough for the month. Sometimes it wasn’t. Yet, one month there was a large abundance as the month was ending. This just never happened.

Now, I could have added the extra money to my savings but it wasn’t meant to be. God laid on my heart two friends who were really in need. To help them out would mean not only using that “extra” money, but also digging into my savings. I chose obedience with a cheerful heart, leaving next month’s finances into His hands.

A few days later several things happened: Both friends were truly grateful due to the timing of the gift. Moreover, I received a gift in the mail. Would you believe the gift was over three times the amount I had given? It truly was!

Coincidence? Definitely not! Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

God delights in proving His Word true. Do you need to step out of your comfort zone, stop worrying about what is going on around you, refuse to live in fear, and trust Him, who has always proven faithful? There are so many needs around you. Tim and I have had a very tight budget the last few months, due to extra expenses, yet we not only have been faithful to our commitments, but have been able to help several friends in need. God always provides in one way or another. Right before we headed out of town, on our way to Warrenton, Missouri, we were given two very generous gifts.

You can’t out give God!!!

Blessings, Mari