Tag: money

Posted on

Leftovers

Daily Reading

Malachi 1-4

Daily Thought

It is a shaming question: the gifts you present to God, would you give to the king? “‘When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8). 

Overheard at a garage sale, “Why are you selling the barbecue?” “Just built a backyard kitchen. Don’t need this anymore.” “Anything wrong with it?” “The auto-igniter doesn’t work and the flames are a bit uneven. It could use some TLC.” “How much?” “We’re asking $25. If it doesn’t sell, I’m donating it to my church.”

God gets leftovers, and he calls it robbery. “But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ And God says, ‘In your tithes and contributions’” (Malachi 3:8). Essential to our offering is faith, and faith is letting go, so either owe God everything or give him nothing, but do not offer him leftovers. Or tips. “That was a good service today,” and an extra five is dropped in the offering, as if God should perform for our pleasure to earn his keep.

It is a full faith, however, when we empty our hands and trust in the Lord. “Put me to the test,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Malachi 3:10). 

“For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.” ~Isaiah 50:10-12

We give to God, not because God needs, but because we need and God gives–but he will not until our hands are empty and open and ready to receive.

Daily Prayer

My God, may You fill my life with Your desires, Your passions, Your wisdom. May I love You first, most, and always. May my love for You be reflected in what I do, what I buy, what I keep, and what I give. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, and the actions of my self be a testimony of Your goodness and Your greatness, and of my devotion to You.

Amen

Daily Question

What does your bank statement say about your faith?

Posted on

Chase What Matters

Daily Reading

Mark 10-11

Daily Thought

A rich man ran up to Jesus “and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). He is earnest, well-mannered, respectful. Jesus told him to follow the commandments and the man claimed he had since youth. He called Jesus good. He actually thinks he is good, too. His question was sincere, but really, he wanted Jesus to assure him he was safe, keep up the good work. “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me’” (Mark 10:21). Jesus loved him too much to give him the answer he wanted. Eternity demands everything, so Jesus told the man to give away the one thing he would not. “Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Chase Bank promoted their credit card with an ad showing a man standing inside a store, drooling before a big wall of big flat screens. In the background, the music blares with a song by Queen, “I want it all. I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now.” The scene changes, the man and his wife at home on their couch staring at what he bought with his Chase Bank credit card, “It’s perfect.” Appearing on the screen, big letters: “Chase what matters”

The rich man believed he obeyed the commandments, that he loved the Lord God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might” (Deuteronomy 6:5), but he would not love God with all his money.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ~Mark 8:36

Chase Bank had the right message, but got it wrong. Peter got it right, “See, we have left everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). Chase what matters…

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33

…and you get it all, all that matters.

Daily Prayer

God, I think about what Your Son left to come to me. He did not consider being God something to hang on to if it meant He could save me. Your Son allowed my sin to break His relationship with You, His Father. He left what was closest to Him and became sin. He took my sin because of His love for me.

I release my hold on everything, God. May nothing stand between me and You. May my love for You be complete and full. Most of all, I give up myself. I am off the throne, and You are in charge. I die to myself, and the life I now live is Yours.

Amen

Posted on

Stop Giving

Daily Reading

Exodus 36-38

Daily Thought

Have you ever been to a church where the pastor told the congregation to keep their wallets in their pockets, we have collected more than enough this year? “Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ‘Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more” (Exodus 36:6-7). You can stop giving …and this was a building campaign, no less!

Building the tabernacle of God transformed something inside the Israelites, because their whining mouths became willing hearts and they “kept bringing Moses freewill offerings every morning”–so much so, that Moses had to put a stop to it. He wasn’t after the wealth of the people, but their hearts, and that was delivered in abundance. Once God has your heart, the rest follows.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abounding grace toward me. May I return my thanks to You with glad heart, a serving spirit, and an open wallet. I pray for a thankful heart that is displayed in a cheerful generosity. You have called us to love others with the same love we have for You. May my love be one of action, demonstrating itself in service and compassion.

Amen