A one-dollar bill met a hundred-dollar bill and said, “Hey, where have you been? I haven’t seen you around.”
The hundred-dollar bill answered, “I’ve been hanging out at fancy restaurants and ball games; made the rounds on a cruise ship; then returned to the United States for awhile, going to large malls, major department stores, that kind of stuff. How about you?”
The one-dollar bill said, “Same old stuff – church, church, church.”
A silly little joke with a grain of truth. Too often, we give God leftovers.
Generous and sacrificial giving has always defined the church. Before the New Testament, the tithe of grain and first fruits for the storehouses caused God’s people to thrive. In the New Testament, followers were called to give to other believers, the young church, and people in need; and to continue tithing.
Before buildings, pastors, and budgets, God’s people gave.
I’ve continued to learn this over and over: When we give, we are blessed. When we give, God multiplies. When we give, our hearts are changed and the bonds of security in self are totally broken.
We give joyfully and generously, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.
It’s not about how much you have; we’re called to give abundantly. Consider the woman who put in two coins, all she had to live on. She became the supreme example, over all the others who put in larger amounts than she.
The church is the single most giving organization on the planet and each Christian is called to make a mark through giving.
How are you giving during this pandemic? Are you remaining faithful to give generously and sacrificially to your church and others?