Grace of giving

https://odb.org/2024/11/12/a-handful-of-rice

It is amazing how a church in poverty could still give and share with others. The churches in Mizoram, India, despite being poor, have given millions to missions and sent out missionaries to all over the world. Surely, it is the grace of God that sustains them. The church in Macedonia is the biblical example of a church that gives out of lack as Paul commended in 2 Corinthians 8.

It puts us to shame if we are a wealthy church and hold on tightly to our monies. The parable of the talents teaches us to use whatever we have to the fullest or else what little we have will be taken away. Don’t hoard our resources, especially money. Put them to good use by blessing others or investing in missions or church planting. We really shouldn’t be burying our talents in the ground. Yes, save for the future and for the rainy day, but we still need to trust God and live out our faith.

At the personal level, there are some who won’t spare even RM50 for a good cause. Yet, there are others who are willing to part with thousands. Perhaps we are not like the latter. Surely we are not like the former! But the amazing ones are the ones who are willing to share despite having little. If we do not have much and still give, it just means that we are forgoing something to bless others. Maybe we go hungry for one meal, to put RM20 into the pocket of one who only gets to eat once every few days. At least we help that downtrodden person have a decent meal. A personal sacrifice like this is akin to the poor woman who put two dimes into the offering box at the temple of God. It was her everything, and yet she gave it all to God.

Most of us are not called to sell our possessions and give them to the poor and needy. But we should at least hold on less tightly to our money. Have the grace of giving. Be genuine and willing to part with our money for worthy causes. Both God and man will be pleased. Even if no one sees, God sees our hearts. So, do you think the Lord will keep us topped up, or will He let us go dry?