Recently, a friend and I have been having a lot of discussions about our giving. We've been asking each other questions like, "If you give out of every paycheck, does that take away from the 'cheerful heart' aspect of giving? What if you don't give from every paycheck—are you neglecting the principle of first-fruits?"
As God-followers, we know that money is important to us and to God. We know giving is part of our worship, but under the growing pressures to make ends meet each month, fear often stands in the way of letting go of our finances.
Soon we become irrational in our thinking about God, his faithfulness, and our role as stewards of His resources. And when we let it, this fear has the potential to rob us of an intimate trust relationship with God.
So, last time I was in Atlanta, I picked up a copy of Andy Stanley's recent book,
Fields of Gold.
Fields of Gold reminded me of some core truths about money and giving. Andy Stanley writes that if we truly believe that God is who he says he is, we have every reason to be generous.
When we truly understand God's power and presence, we can't help but trust him to meet our needs. Doesn't it make sense to trust the God of the universe with our finances? Isn't it time to put aside the worry and start living in confidence?
There are scriptural principles that tell us those who sow generously can expect to reap generously and receive a bountiful return: fields of gold—in this life, as well as the life to come. I don't understand that, exactly—it's certainly not a magic-genie formula, but there is definitely something to the principle of letting go of what was never ours to begin with.
Hey, let's be honest. God's a big God. If he really needed your money, don't you think he'd just take it? The fact is, God wants our hearts, and he knows that money is just one way that he can teach us that he really is trustworthy. He really loves us, he really wants what is best for us, and if we will trust him, he's big enough to make it happen.
I highly recommend this book. It's a quick read, and I guarantee it will help you understand the relationship between money and faith a little better. Grab a copy at our resource center on June 3, or order a copy from
North Point Resources today.
Labels: Resources
Next time you're passing our Resource Center, consider picking up a copy of The Legend of Joe Jacobson, Permission to Speak Freely or Indescribable for a friend. These DVDs are a great way to introduce someone to Andy and Louie's powerful, practical teaching.
