John gave me time for my birthday. This is something I crave- time to think, process, to be alone, to be with God.
As I showered, I thought of the widow who gave her last mite. Jesus commended her because she gave from her poverty, not from her excess.
There are people who give lots of money to "God" things. They think they are making great contributions to the kingdom that way. Their financial giving lulls them into thinking they are being obedient to God.
While this is not true of everyone who give generously, it needs to be said for the many it is true for: they are just giving from their excess.
They use their financial gifts as a cover up for their greed. They refuse to give from their poverty.
They refuse to give their time, because they think they don’t have that.
They refuse to give their affections, because they think they can’t afford it and people will abuse it and use them.
They refuse to give lavishly of their service, because they believe they will suffer and their family will be put out.
They refuse to be inconvenienced or to do the hard things.
They give only of their excess, not of their poverty.
We have valued money so much in this society that we praise and laud people who give financially. And by the way, if any of you want to send me a check, this isn’t to say don’t send it. You go ahead and get that baby in the mail.
Just wanted to make that clear.
I might “need” a trip to Sonic.
But it is true, is it not? We somehow believe that people who give money aren’t stingy, but I’m here to tell you, I’ve discovered otherwise. Ahem.
Many times, the money is the excess and we use it as a cover up for a selfish, stingy heart. And our society praises us for it and we aren't busted.
{Until God sends someone like me to be the little boy in "The Emporer and His New Clothes" to say what no one else wants to. You gotta love us.)
John gave a birthday gift to me from his poverty. And he was just about more delighted to do it than I was to receive it and that blessed and humbled my heart. (He was praying all week that I wouldn’t get sick or one of the kids get sick so that I could go out and enjoy a long quiet time with a cup of coffee. And he woke up early so that he could see me off and take care of things, excited to give me time. Makes one cry, it does.)
I don’t know about you, but I want to be like that. I don’t want to applaud myself in what I give from my excesses. I want to take joy in what I give from my poverty. It makes one ask, “What is my poverty? What are the areas in my life where I don’t have much to give? Where do I feel “I can’t afford this?”
That’s where we need to start doing the most. Even if we give our last mite.
I’m in. Are you?
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"I Can't Do This!"
5 months ago
5 comments:
does "i don't want to afford this" count??
Thank you for this exhortation! I needed to be reminded that even when I don't feel I have much to give, I ALWAYS have something I can give even if it is just a little time!
Thank You!!!
Girl, you so hit it on the head.
And happy late birthday!! Hope you enjoyed your time! =]
So true! You never fail to challenge me when I stop by. :) I think, for me, the area would be time as well. Now what to do...
Ouch. Yeah, that hurts a little. I am totally stingy with so many of my resources. We don't have a lot of money, either, but I do pay my tithing, which is definitely a sacrifice. Still, it's a much bigger sacrifice to give of my time and energy, and at times I just can't seem to give that up.
When you talked about not giving of your emotions or being willing to be vulnerable, I couldn't help thinking of all the times fear was what got in my way.
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