I recently received my first "holiday" card. Every year the card comes with an inspiring letter and a picture of the family. This year the family included a paragraph of things they were thankful for.
This morning the news confirmed what we all knew to be true that yes, we are indeed in a recession. Things are grim for many families this year and I have a feeling that next year won't be any different. That is why more then ever, we need to keep our focus heavenward. "Things we are thankful for:" was how the paragraph started and there in the middle was "A job - that allows us to give to others and pay our bills too". AND they were also thankful for "not having too much or too little". Wow, to put giving to other in with paying your bills was just awe inspiring...wish I had thought of the two together. Then to go on to say that they were thankful for not having too much or too little. In a society where so much emphasis is placed on what one has...I found this line profound. I know that you do not know this family but let me tell you, you might wish you did. They are a loving, happy, peace filled people who above all else love the Lord. And that is why they are so content.
This holiday season as you ponder how or what to give as a tithe or just as a Christmas donation let me give you this..."Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this" says the Lord, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it". Yes, that's right..he says test me in this...give without reservation and see if I will not pour out so much blessing on you that you won't have room for it all. This is the complete opposite of how many of us are thinking at this time and this year. Yet God says his wisdom is foolishness to man, and to follow him is to go against the grain, and following him is the road less traveled. Makes sense then that despite our fears in letting go of our money it is best to do so AND we will blessed. I don't know about you but God has already blessed me so richly I'm certainly not going to pass up anymore! Ha. Be thankful for what you have, hopefully it's "not too much and not too little". But regardless remember that there are SO many less fortunate then you. And even though it makes "human" sense to hold on to our money in this "recession", it makes "eternal" sense to give it away.