Giving- Why is it so difficult
Why is that dogs love rawhide bones? Its just flour and water, hhmm. We had this dog that loved those bones, she would chew on it for hours on end. And don’t even think about trying to take that bone away, she would let you know that you had better step back. I mean I had given her the bone and she had the audacity to growl at me?!?! I mean if I were trying to take the bone away it was because it was filthy and needed to be thrown out. But I guess she felt threatened and saw it as me trying to steal her bone.
Is it not true that many behave the same way with money. Where does this money come from? God. He gives us the ability to make the money by blessing us with the ability, the jobs and careers that brings the money to the table. Yet when He, be it through the church or those in need, asks for some of it, we grumble, we growl and we hoard our money.
Perhaps maybe the biggest problem is that we fail to realize that everything we have is not our own. It is not our money, it belongs to God who has entrusted us of a certain amount be it big or small. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1. If we remember this, that the money does not belong to any of us in the first place, it maybe easier to give it back to God. We also have the assurance that He can and will supply all our needs
Bills, bills and more bills. With the rising cost of living it is easy to get side tracked and lose focus of the big picture. It is then that we need to refocus and remember that God really does own it all and is in control and will take care of us. This will not only enable us to give more easily but will make us a cheerful giver. We will develop a peace within our hearts because we know that God is our Father and how much He looks after us. He is not just out to get all our money.
I understand why many find it difficult to give- they probably think that if they give they will not have enough money left to see to their needs. When you give something away you have less, that’s math in a nutshell but God has a different type of math. God math 101 the more you give the more you get, you will not be left with less. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2nd Cor 9:6
God does not ask us to give so that we will get more money, it is good for our spirituality. We learn that it is not all about me and my needs but we learn to think of others and how we can help them. It is good for us to give. When money becomes the king if the castle, everything revolves around money and how we can get more money. When God is the accountant our lives and our world is opened up and we are able to appreciate the things that are really important- our relationship with God, family, friends…
So please don’t grumble and complain when you are giving. Remember it’s not yours to keep in the first place, it will not only be easier to give but you will be eager to give.
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