GIVING: WHAT IF THE BLESSING ISN'T WHAT I WANT

Acts 4:36-37

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet

The Lord placed on my heart the need to address this issue of giving from another perspective from yesterday's devotion. When I was growing up I had a cousin Larry who was my same age. Larry and I were the best of friends despite the fact he lived in Tennessee and I lived in California. As Christmas approached the year we were both 12 years old, we decided we were going to be rock stars and therefore needed guitars. We agreed we would both ask for guitars for Christmas, then when we saw each other during summer vacation we would write some songs and play together. As Christmas approached my Mom and Dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I explained the plan that Larry and I had made, therefore the only thing I wanted for Christmas was a guitar.

Christmas morning arrived and I was shocked to see a number of presents under the tree with my name on them (wow I thought, my parents were really generous this year). I quickly passed over all of them until I found the one shaped just the right way -- could this be it? I tore off the wrapping as my heart raced. You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered a toy guitar, with plastic strings "for ages 5 and up." I never even unpackaged the gift.

You might think I was ungrateful. Maybe, but I will admit I was incredibly disappointed. Have you ever felt that way before? I think my experience and reaction to it, is one of the core issues in our relationship with God on the subject of giving: We don't trust Him to give us what we want. In Malachi 3:10, the Lord tells us "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 you will not have room enough for it." Tithing is the only Biblical circumstance in which the Lord tells us He wants us to test Him. If we step out in faith He will "pour out so much blessing that we won't have room for it". My earthly parents had a budget and 3 other children to buy for as well. They had limited resources. God does not. So what is the key to receiving "so much blessing that you won't have room for it"? The answer: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…"

We so often tithe superficially -- giving whatever is leftover after everything else is paid (what amounts to loose change). That's the opposite of what the Lord instructs. Everything belongs to the Lord; He has given us everything we have -- therefore we need to tithe first ("bring the whole tithe") and spend what's left. If you are not experiencing "so much blessing you don't have room for it" -- the solution to your problem is the amount of your tithe, not the annual return on your retirement account. it is the condition of your heart, not the balance of your credit card bill.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" It comes down to this: Do we believe God will just meet our needs for survival, or He will fill us to the point that we have room for no more? When you believe in that promise, you can tithe in faith -- which is the point. How can you begin to tithe by faith? Do you need to talk with your spouse or family about this? What is your first step?

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