Aug
24
Can’t Do It
Filed Under Devotional
I have heard several of my pastors say it over the years, but I’ve been experiencing the truth of it more recently. At one time or another, I’ve heard all of them say, “You can’t out-give God.” I even had one pastor propose a deal: If I were to give ten percent of my income for one year and, if after that year, you did not feel that God had blessed you more because of it, he would return my money. I didn’t take him up on his deal, but it did start me on a road of considering all of my possessions and wealth as not mine at all. Whenever it was time to give something away and I felt a twinge of greed (I could sell that and get twenty bucks!), I knew that I was considering those things mine again.
God blessed me like a bucket of cold water, yesterday. We began cleaning out our garage and disposing of anything we don’t remotely need (of which there is much, unfortunately). We spent a few hours sorting through boxes for donations and, when the pickup was full, we headed down to Goodwill and handed it all over. That was a joyful experience in itself. Not an hour later, I got a call and was told that I would be getting a check for a hundred bucks that I wasn’t expecting.
I had to stop and thank God. It makes me laugh when it happens, but I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
I intend to keep giving and using the possessions God has given me control of for His work. I may not be able to out-give God, but I’m going to attempt to see what happens when I try.