He is worthy. He is powerful enough to provide. He has provided. Give from the firstfruits. So now I've arrived at a theological puzzle. What was the point of giving of the firstfruits? So I don't really have enough money to pay the bills, but I've just received a large amount of money from selling my motorcycle. I don't feel particularly grateful to God for providing for me, but I do feel grateful. He has shown that he is powerful enough to provide, and I want to give God back a portion of what I have received. So now I have these two conflicting urges:
One, I feel like it would be irresponsible to give back to God since I haven't even made enough from it to cover the monthly expenses (let alone have enough left over to eat). Secondly, I know that God will provide the rest because he says that he will provide for all of my needs. So there's no real danger in giving it. But then, easy for me to say, what if I had a wife and kids that were depending on that income to be able to eat. The man who doesn't provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever, right? So do I give despite my need out of my half-hearted feeling of gratitude?
Well, one, I pray that God would provide for me what is lacking in my gratitude. It's not right for me to be ungrateful, and so take part in humanities greatest and original offense toward God (Romans 1:18-21). My ingratitude is a stain unworthy of the God who has done so much to preserve me. Secondly, I pray that God would provide what's left of my bills so that I won't be unashamed of my belief in a God who claims to provide for his children like the birds and lilies. And third, I pray that God would give me a true and balanced view of how to manage money, burning away my propensity to waste, and play, and play, and play. I don't want to be someone who gives out of compulsion, but I do want to be someone who trusts God and radically obeys. Even in a perfect world where sin does not exist, sacrifices of thanksgiving are a right thing. How much more in a world where God has poured out his love for a wretch like me. :-)
One, I feel like it would be irresponsible to give back to God since I haven't even made enough from it to cover the monthly expenses (let alone have enough left over to eat). Secondly, I know that God will provide the rest because he says that he will provide for all of my needs. So there's no real danger in giving it. But then, easy for me to say, what if I had a wife and kids that were depending on that income to be able to eat. The man who doesn't provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever, right? So do I give despite my need out of my half-hearted feeling of gratitude?
Well, one, I pray that God would provide for me what is lacking in my gratitude. It's not right for me to be ungrateful, and so take part in humanities greatest and original offense toward God (Romans 1:18-21). My ingratitude is a stain unworthy of the God who has done so much to preserve me. Secondly, I pray that God would provide what's left of my bills so that I won't be unashamed of my belief in a God who claims to provide for his children like the birds and lilies. And third, I pray that God would give me a true and balanced view of how to manage money, burning away my propensity to waste, and play, and play, and play. I don't want to be someone who gives out of compulsion, but I do want to be someone who trusts God and radically obeys. Even in a perfect world where sin does not exist, sacrifices of thanksgiving are a right thing. How much more in a world where God has poured out his love for a wretch like me. :-)
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