Reason #746
I'm money conscious. They say it comes with being an accountant. Maybe that has something to do with it. Truth be told, I've been this way my whole life. Even as a little girl, I always saved my money and tried to spend it sparingly. I think it has a lot to do with personality types, and I have to think that most of us Type-A+++++ people tend to be this way. Even if I was given unlimited funds, I'd still have a hard time spending it without a second thought.
We're studying God's generosity right now. It's hard to talk about generosity and not think of money. Really, generosity encompasses so much more. But, when I think about it, I always end up back at money. The truth is, you can put a dollar sign on anything. And, money is what drives us, isn't it? After all, I'm pretty sure money is a motivator for 100% of Americans. If it wasn't, we'd work for free. And so it's money that often drives the ship. Our bank accounts are clear indicators of our priorities, and today I realized that I have a hard time deciphering the line between being a good steward and being generous.
I save because I have goals. I spend wisely because I don't want to be in debt. I like to have money in my bank account, and the more that sum grows, the harder time I have letting it decrease. Because I see money as security. The more there is, the less anxiety and stress I have. A padded checkbook means I can breathe easy. If an emergency comes up, we can afford it. If our jobs are eliminated, we can make it for a few months while we search for additional income. If we have kids in a few years, I can potentially work less and be home more. I see these funds add up and I am relieved. I realize that we only have because it has been given to us. I realize that at a moment's notice, it could all be taken away. And today, I had to ask myself if my attempts at being a good steward, at being money conscious and an expert saver, are really a cover up for being stingy.
The truth is, I don't mind giving. In fact, I'm all for it. I could get on my soapbox and preach about tithing and supporting ministries, but I'll leave that one to the Lord. Yet, as I read over the story of Zacchaeus, I realized that I fall into the category of giving the bare minimum. Ten percent, I'm more than glad to do that. A few sponsorships here or there, absolutely. But give until it hurts? That's a hard one. Because I've worked hard for those dollars. I have been creative, I have saved, and I have planned accordingly. Yet, Zacchaeus, had done the same thing, too. Granted, he had cheated people, he had done so in a way to store up for himself. And after encountering the Lord, after experiencing Jesus' generosity, He eagerly gave away half of all he had to the poor, repaid all of his wrongs, and went as far as to give back 4 times as much as he had taken. He gave because he realized he knew the source of abundance and that it would never run dry.
And so I am challenged about giving not just the bare minimum or not just "enough" but giving graciously and generously. I am challenged to find where I fall on that line of being a good steward and being a generous giver. Because God didn't come to do the bare minimum, and He didn't pour out abundance on us so that we'd do the same. The study I read tonight worded it perfectly. "A focus on scarcity results in stinginess while a focus on abundance results in generosity...Our Heavenly Father has given us an inheritance of unimaginable proportions. Being stingy with what we have received is simply not an appropriate response." (Conversation Peace - Mary Kassian)
I suppose when we know the source of abundance, when we draw from the well that never runs dry, we realize that we can do more. We can give freely because He freely gave to us. And when we pour out, He is faithful to fill us up again so that we're always able to give.
#746 - Because He is the source of abundance that never runs dry.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." - Malachi 3:10
We're studying God's generosity right now. It's hard to talk about generosity and not think of money. Really, generosity encompasses so much more. But, when I think about it, I always end up back at money. The truth is, you can put a dollar sign on anything. And, money is what drives us, isn't it? After all, I'm pretty sure money is a motivator for 100% of Americans. If it wasn't, we'd work for free. And so it's money that often drives the ship. Our bank accounts are clear indicators of our priorities, and today I realized that I have a hard time deciphering the line between being a good steward and being generous.
I save because I have goals. I spend wisely because I don't want to be in debt. I like to have money in my bank account, and the more that sum grows, the harder time I have letting it decrease. Because I see money as security. The more there is, the less anxiety and stress I have. A padded checkbook means I can breathe easy. If an emergency comes up, we can afford it. If our jobs are eliminated, we can make it for a few months while we search for additional income. If we have kids in a few years, I can potentially work less and be home more. I see these funds add up and I am relieved. I realize that we only have because it has been given to us. I realize that at a moment's notice, it could all be taken away. And today, I had to ask myself if my attempts at being a good steward, at being money conscious and an expert saver, are really a cover up for being stingy.
The truth is, I don't mind giving. In fact, I'm all for it. I could get on my soapbox and preach about tithing and supporting ministries, but I'll leave that one to the Lord. Yet, as I read over the story of Zacchaeus, I realized that I fall into the category of giving the bare minimum. Ten percent, I'm more than glad to do that. A few sponsorships here or there, absolutely. But give until it hurts? That's a hard one. Because I've worked hard for those dollars. I have been creative, I have saved, and I have planned accordingly. Yet, Zacchaeus, had done the same thing, too. Granted, he had cheated people, he had done so in a way to store up for himself. And after encountering the Lord, after experiencing Jesus' generosity, He eagerly gave away half of all he had to the poor, repaid all of his wrongs, and went as far as to give back 4 times as much as he had taken. He gave because he realized he knew the source of abundance and that it would never run dry.
And so I am challenged about giving not just the bare minimum or not just "enough" but giving graciously and generously. I am challenged to find where I fall on that line of being a good steward and being a generous giver. Because God didn't come to do the bare minimum, and He didn't pour out abundance on us so that we'd do the same. The study I read tonight worded it perfectly. "A focus on scarcity results in stinginess while a focus on abundance results in generosity...Our Heavenly Father has given us an inheritance of unimaginable proportions. Being stingy with what we have received is simply not an appropriate response." (Conversation Peace - Mary Kassian)
I suppose when we know the source of abundance, when we draw from the well that never runs dry, we realize that we can do more. We can give freely because He freely gave to us. And when we pour out, He is faithful to fill us up again so that we're always able to give.
#746 - Because He is the source of abundance that never runs dry.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." - Malachi 3:10