Give Anyway

Psalm 50: ⁸ I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
¹⁰ for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

============

As debts mounted I decided to go to church. I had nowhere to turn so I decided to go to a place I had not been in a while. Announcement after announcement distracted me for a moment. I had forgotten they did that in church. The offering plate was then passed and I had forgotten that too. It was like I was in a daze. “Should I give $1?” I thought to myself. To my dismay all I had in my wallet was a $5 bill. “I wonder if I should give it up” I thought.

• Sometimes I think all my riches are my riches.
• Sometimes I think my bank account is a testament to how much GOD loves me.
• Sometimes I think the accumulation of stuff is a blessing and having bills is a curse from GOD.

A small still voice said “Give what you have” and I unclenched my fist and gave. This was a sacrifice because I did not have any food and I was not going to get paid until the next day. I have no idea what the sermon was about that day. As the congregation was dismissed I got up and walked towards the exit in the cattle like crowd. Someone said, “Aren’t you staying for the meal?” I was amazed!

• GOD owns everything so HE knows my financial situation.
• GOD owns everything so HE knows my worries.
• GOD owns everything so HE does not need my giving but wants me to release all to HIM.

It’s amazing that the verse says “Sacrifice” before “Call on ME.” I would think this would be the other way around. BUT GOD says “I want your entire life not just a little of it.” HE knows my thoughts, HE knows my sins, yet HE loves me and wants me to have faith in HIM.

• Are you in debt?
• Are bills climbing higher and higher?
• Can you believe GOD knows this and loves you in the middle of your fear?
• Will you give to HIM what HE tells you to give soon?