Giving All by Martin Wiles

One dollar didn’t seem like much…not really enough to bother with. But we gave it nevertheless.

My family and I have recently experienced numerous financial challenges. Low wages, inability to work, medical bills, surgeries. All have combined to make our financial journey feel like a lofty mountain. Many days we literally don’t have more than a dime to our names. On Sunday mornings we give our tithes, and on Sunday nights the offering plates come around for those who didn’t give that morning or for those who want to give an “offering.” Quite regularly my wife will hand me a single dollar bill and whisper, “That’s all we have.” Giving when it’s all you have is challenging.

Peter did the same when he encountered the lame beggar lying at one of the temple gates. He wanted money. Peter had none, but what he had he gave willingly. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6 NLT)

I’ve learned my giving shouldn’t be determined by the amount of my income or how much I have left over after the bills are paid. All I have at any particular moment, God has given me, and he desires the firstfruits in return. Though amount is significant, it isn’t as important as the attitude with which I give it. With the right focus, I can give cheerfully, liberally, regularly, proportionately, and with correct motives. While not larger in amount, the poor widow’s mite was greater in value than the wealthy’s large sums thrown in with little care. Theirs was for show and rote obedience only (Luke 21). 

Though difficult to give when times are tough, demonstrate your faith by putting in God’s firstfruits and trusting him to meet your needs. He will never fail you.

Prayer: Father God, owner of the cattle on a thousand hillsides, prompt us to give and then trust You to give back to us in return…pressed down and running over. 

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