While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Luke 21:1-4 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.21.1-4.NLT
How many of us are giving just from our surplus, just from what we’ve budgeted that we can afford to give, which takes no faith in God to do amazing and wonderful things? How many of us have grown comfortable not seeing, God active in our lives because we aren’t willing to extend ourselves to a point that requires trusting the Lord to provide.
And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a finger pointed out at you in condemnation – these are arms wide open saying, “You don’t know what you are missing.”
My wife and I were in bad shape, financially speaking, maritally speaking, spiritually speaking – until we made a decision and we stepped out into waters over our heads, and placed our trust in the Lord. And now, with every new step that we take – not as a sacrifice, but in a new level of gratefully trusting and relying on God to provide, we find Him faithfully pouring out, His blessings upon our lives.
So I’m telling you not to guilt you into trusting God – I’m telling you that what the world tells you is foolish is sometimes the very solution to your problems. When we were facing foreclosure on our house and bankruptcy as our only viable solution a few years ago and we were trapped in our worldly thinking, we felt hopeless. But when we decided to be not only faithful tithers, but also generous givers of our time, money, and love unto others – we look up just a little while later and we are caught up on our bills and getting ready to hopefully be debt free in the coming year.
When we gave up keeping score in our marriage and decided to each do our best to serve one another, our marriage was healed to a partnership entwined with God, and with our daughter living and seeking after God, and with family bonds tighter than ever before.
When we made time in our busy schedules and put God first in our mornings with family devotionals, with service unto others, with encouraging and loving and counseling others in the Word of God, our lives became blessed with a closer relationship with God, with days more free from the consequences of our old foolish actions, with new friends who are faithful and encouraging and comforting.
You see, we aren’t sacrificial givers of our money, of our time, of our talents. We’ve seen past the lie that any of it is ours anyways. The veil has been lifted and we now understand that it is all His, given to us – so we are grateful and blessed with the opportunity to use it ALL for His glory and honor. And that He doesn’t stop purring out the blessings, as we pour out, it just makes room for Him to pour more in.
So we aren’t sacrificial givers – even though the worldly minded might place us in that category. We are grateful and generous givers, because we have learned these traits from our Father who lives us and who is generous to us.
Don’t miss out on the blessings that He has for your life and for those that you can help with your pouring out of your love, your time, your talents, and yes, even your money. There are many that are in need of help, of hope, of salvation, of purpose, of meaning in their lives. Be a part of the solution – stand up and start walking with Him out across the waters, trusting Him in greater and deeper ways. You won’t drown.
Harold J. Ballinger 
Yes! This is what we are doing too! It’s an adventure with God. I have to be honest though, sometimes I do find it hard and miss the old ‘security’ of being able to spend how I want. But now we are resting in the true security of being in God’s will. Whenever I hanker back for the old days I remember the true treasures that we would have missed out on if we had not followed this path. Also I look forward to seeing everyone in Heaven who we have been able to help.
Unfortunately even a lot of Christians will encourage you to look after yourself first (especially if you have children), and I have even been told not to tithe by a church elder.
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