Commitment to Christ - Financial Giving

:: 31 ::  “Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house. Please test me in this, says the Lord of heavenly forces. See whether I do not open all the windows of heavens for you and empty out a blessing until there is enough.” (Malachi 3:10)

Like the people of Israel, we are called to willingly and cheerfully make sacrifices to God, by giving of our time, talent, and treasure in service to God. Yet too often we do not. We are deceived in thinking either that there is not enough, or that God will not provide. So we hold back. We live with a scarcity mentality. As I said in last week, American church members only give 2% of their finances to God! 2%!! If we gave 10% as we are instructed Christ's Body - The Church would have $165 billion more than they do now! $165 billion. But just think if those who call themselves 'Christian' would even step up a couple of percentage points in their giving! How much more the symbol of God on earth could do to address the needs of our world! So why don't we give more? Greed and fear!

But our Scripture today tells us we need not fear. The challenge is given: “Test me in this.” Did you hear that? God tells us to test Him by generous giving of all that we are and all that we have and see if our life isn't blessing! And the reality, if you step back and really think about who you are and what you have, God has provided you with not only enough, but an abundance. God has provided for you in the past, and will continue to provide. Think of the good that God can do with your gifts, extended with an open hand. You will see that with the giving of the gifts comes a blessing—not necessarily a financial return, but joy in the deep realization that the gifts you have given were first provided for you by God’s grace, and the gifts you release came from an abundance of what you already possessed.

Jesus, may we learn how to open our hands and give freely of our time, of our talents, of our treasure. Trusting you will give us an abundance of joy, faith, hope, and love, as we progress in our discipleship. Amen.