November 2017 – Only
eight Sunday’s left in the year. Let's make it our aim to finish out 2017 strong and faithful in our giving and in our living. With so many plans, obligations, and expectations, especially during the holiday season, we sometimes find ourselves overextended in time, mind, and money. Jesus asks each of us to put first things first, to remember that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus knows our needs and desires. He asks us to "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
I
read about a man who knelt with his preacher one night and prayed as he
committed himself to give a tenth of what he earned to the Lord. His first week’s pay was $100 so his offering
was $10. As he grew older he became more
prosperous and his tenth became $20 and then $50. He moved to another city and soon his tenth became
$100 then $200 then $500. He then called
his old friend and former preacher to please come by to visit. The preacher arrived at the man’s beautiful
house. They had a good time talking over
old times and finally, the man came to the point with the preacher, “Do you
remember that prayer and promise I made years ago to give the Lord a tenth of
all I earned? How can I be released from
that promise?” “Why do you want to be
released?” asked the preacher. “It’s
like this,” the man replied. When I made
that promise I only had to give $10, but now my offering is $500. I can’t afford to give away money like that.” The preacher looked at his friend and said, “I’m
afraid we can’t get a release from that promise, but there is something we can
do. We can kneel right here and ask God
to shrink your income so you will only have to give $10 again.” The man declined.
$20,000 for my brand new car. $10,000 for a piece of sod.
$10,000 I paid to begin a house – A dollar I give to God.
A tidy sum to entertain – My friends in pointless chatter.
And when the world goes crazy mad, I ask, “Lord, what’s the
matter?”
Yet, there is one big question – For the answer I still
search
“With things so bad in this old world, what’s holding back
the church?"
“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” (II Corinthians
9:6-8).
