While I believe that most of us really want to be generous, and most of us really do want to honor God with our whole lives (including our money), my guess is that the line for those willing to sacrifice is a lot shorter!
I don’t know about you, but the thing that scares me when I think about sacrifice (when I’m surrendering my heart to God) is, "what is God going to ask me to sacrifice?" And that answer to that question is …
God only asks for … everything!
The heart of the economic systems in many Native American cultures is the potlatch (giveaway). Essentially, the richest person in the community was the one who gave the most away. That’s such a contrast to the "Whoever dies with the most toys wins" philosophy, isn’t it?
"The man who dies rich … dies disgraced." (Andrew Carnegie)
The Challenge
How much have you given to God? What possesses your heart? I challenge you, between now and the end of the year (30+ days), to practice sacrificial giving. If you are not currently tithing, I challenge you to give 10% of your income. And if you are currently tithing (giving to God 10% or more), I challenge you to consider increase your giving 1%.
Malachi 3.8b-11
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.
My prayer is that we will a people who seek to honor God with our money … as well as our whole lives!