4. Give What You Have
Give what you have, not what you do not have. That seems pretty simple, but it really is not. Especially when you consider that all giving should be generously done out of love, unto the Lord as you have decided in your heart.
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12
Growing up, one of the bible stories I often heard was of the woman who gave all she had:
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
For quite some time, this story bothered me. Similarly, the following verses did not sit right with me:
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Acts 4:32-35
The reason these verses disturbed me was because I thought Jesus (was saying) and the apostles were implying that wealth was wrong. What was wrong was my interpetration of the Scripture.
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Luke 18:18-23
Note Jesus’ words, “…and you will have treasure in heaven.” Jesus was not against this man having treasure, but He wanted him to have the right treasure.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:20-21
In the same chapter, Jesus said the often quoted words:
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24
The ruler’s response lets us know that his heart was in his wealth. And because of this, when he was presented with the option of choosing between God and his riches, he chose the latter.
Contrast this with the widow and the believers who sold all their possessions.
Your Turn
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
God is not against you having riches and wealth. God is against riches and wealth having you. He wants you to put your trust in Him and not in your wealth.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Giving provides us with the opportunity of examining the state of our hearts. Are our hearts being held by our possessions?
God is not telling you to go sell off everything and give it all away…but if He were to tell you to do just that, would you be able to? Or would you act like the young ruler did when Jesus asked Him to do just that?
PS
My sincere apologies for not uploading this post on Tuesday. I had an overnight errand on Monday that I finished on Tuesday night and I was just too exhausted. But, I shall be more organized and prepare my posts in advance ☺