The more we understand none of it is ours anyway, the more obedient we will naturally become towards being compassionately generous towards others, as well as tithing towards God’s Kingdom. Obedience with our finances also helps kill one of the worst symptoms of selfishness: greed. Greed is a completely Pride oriented way of thinking, so the more obedient we become to God’s command to give, the less greedy we are automatically. But more than just offering what God tells us to donate, it’s the WHY we give that makes the difference between a cheerful heart or a reluctant giver. (see 2Co 9:7) Again think the difference between the heart of Cain and Abel here, like we talked about yesterday.
Whether we give because we are just checking off some imaginary list of righteousness or out of a sincerely grateful heart, either way it may seem like we are obeying God’s command to give. But our heart attitude makes all the difference in what we, ourselves, reap from that obedience. If we give freely and willingly (see Free Will here), then we are investing for our own future. Again, we can never out give our Generous God. When we obey out of gratitude, then we will receive some type of reward for it, here and in Heaven. But if we give begrudgingly? If we give in order to win some favor with God? If we give because we expect to get something back? Then that wrong attitude kills any good seed we might have been sowing.
Like God has taught me over and over again, the heart of the matter is always a matter of the heart. We have to check our motives of why we give. It should always and only be because we love God and want to please Him by obeying His commands. Whether we obey, and why we obey, this is another financial test.
<>< Peace, Diane
