This past week I heard a professor liken God to a bank teller. He said that God cannot stand to be any man's debtor and that when God pays back, He does so quickly and with interest.
Now, the analogy obviously has a major flaw in that money isn't ours to begin with but rather God has made us stewards of His money. But let's leave that thought alone for a bit.
Supposing that God gave me money to do with as I please and I chose to give some to Him, the analogy would apply that God refuses to be indebted to me. God returns my money with a sizeable interest rate. As a Swedish saying goes, "You shovel to God, God shovels to you; God just has a bigger shovel."
Well, as I was listening to this metaphor (which I believe to be true) I felt that God was prompting me to give some money to a single mother in my church. No single mother couldn't use extra cash and help around this time of year (a double negative!). I felt like God was telling me to use cash specifically and that if I tested Him by taking a leap of faith and giving to this lady generously, then He would return that money and then some. (Mal 3)
So I sent the money off with no return address and no clear identification on who might have sent the provision. It was exciting to test God in this way to see what He would do to show me His power and might. (I know, I know, many of you are thinking "Geez, this guy is super shallow and he only gives money to God to see what kind of return he can make on his money." And in some ways you may be true, but more importantly I was excited to learn a lesson from God).
3 days had passed and my little test fell into the back of my mind; not forgotten, but not at the forefront. Long story short, I bought a new dining room table to replace our old one. The old one replaced the couch in the living room, and the couch joined the other sectional pieces in the basement. Katie and I then decided to list the sectional couch on Craigslist for $200 to see if any takers were out there. A few hours later someone came to our front door with $100 cash in hand and offered to buy the couch. I was floored. God had acted quickly to show me that I had nothing to worry about--if I gave generously to a cause God was passionate about, God would see that my needs were being met.
Oh yeah, did I mention that I got a great deal on the table because it was the floor model and the last one in stock? Did I mention that that was God's hundred-something provision? Did I mention the unexpected check that came in the mail today from a family friend who just felt led to bless us with $150? Did I mention that that was God giving back with interest? Did I mention that God loves to give back to us richly when we test Him on His generosity??
When you think of money as not being your own but being God's--and when you think of God providing every penny that crosses your path rather than you earning it yourself--your eyes become opened up to how much God is blessing your life and how immediately He cares for you.
Now, the analogy obviously has a major flaw in that money isn't ours to begin with but rather God has made us stewards of His money. But let's leave that thought alone for a bit.
Supposing that God gave me money to do with as I please and I chose to give some to Him, the analogy would apply that God refuses to be indebted to me. God returns my money with a sizeable interest rate. As a Swedish saying goes, "You shovel to God, God shovels to you; God just has a bigger shovel."
Well, as I was listening to this metaphor (which I believe to be true) I felt that God was prompting me to give some money to a single mother in my church. No single mother couldn't use extra cash and help around this time of year (a double negative!). I felt like God was telling me to use cash specifically and that if I tested Him by taking a leap of faith and giving to this lady generously, then He would return that money and then some. (Mal 3)
So I sent the money off with no return address and no clear identification on who might have sent the provision. It was exciting to test God in this way to see what He would do to show me His power and might. (I know, I know, many of you are thinking "Geez, this guy is super shallow and he only gives money to God to see what kind of return he can make on his money." And in some ways you may be true, but more importantly I was excited to learn a lesson from God).
3 days had passed and my little test fell into the back of my mind; not forgotten, but not at the forefront. Long story short, I bought a new dining room table to replace our old one. The old one replaced the couch in the living room, and the couch joined the other sectional pieces in the basement. Katie and I then decided to list the sectional couch on Craigslist for $200 to see if any takers were out there. A few hours later someone came to our front door with $100 cash in hand and offered to buy the couch. I was floored. God had acted quickly to show me that I had nothing to worry about--if I gave generously to a cause God was passionate about, God would see that my needs were being met.
Oh yeah, did I mention that I got a great deal on the table because it was the floor model and the last one in stock? Did I mention that that was God's hundred-something provision? Did I mention the unexpected check that came in the mail today from a family friend who just felt led to bless us with $150? Did I mention that that was God giving back with interest? Did I mention that God loves to give back to us richly when we test Him on His generosity??
When you think of money as not being your own but being God's--and when you think of God providing every penny that crosses your path rather than you earning it yourself--your eyes become opened up to how much God is blessing your life and how immediately He cares for you.
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