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Give or Go Hungry
“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7
Just this past weekend I was babysitting my cousin. We had a wonderful time going to the amusement park and shopping. One night we planned on going to the movie “Transformers.” My eight year old cousin is a big fan of the toys. I decided to cook spaghetti for dinner and served up everyone’s plates. We sat down to eat and my cousin decided that he did not want to eat the spaghetti and that the tomato chunks were not appetizing. I told him, the age old bribe, that if he did not eat all of the food on his plate we would not be going to the movie. Well, as you can assume, he threw quite the fit but he ate all of his dinner.
I know I am not alone in this fight. Many parents, grandparents, and babysitters understand exactly what I went through. However, I know that I was once like my cousin. I know that I am like my cousin to this very day. I may be asked by someone to do something and I grumble, complain, make up excuses not to do it, and procrastinate. I usually will end up doing it even though I did not want the task.
We do the same thing to God very often. God puts something on our plate and we gripe and complain. We even may put off “eating” what is served. However, eventually, we will get tired of waiting for our reward and finish our task. God may ask us to give more time, money, or other gifts to our church, but we make up excuses not to. God may ask us to go out into the world and “make disciples of all men.” We gripe and complain. We may say that we don’t have the skills, or the money, or any other excuse not to do it. We may just wait, hoping someone else will do it. But we know that we have to do what God asks of us. We eventually give of our gifts or we leave the table hungry.
In Psalm 37:25-26 David says “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.” David knew that those who obeyed God would be kind and giving. Those who love God will do what is asked of them and do it with God’s joy in their heart. This does not mean that you have to clean a bathroom or do yard-work with a giant grin on your face. If God asks you to give of your gifts, give with an open heart. Try to find that reward that God is challenging you to find. You may just get to go to the movie!
Prayer: Lord, I know that what you ask of me is right. I know that I should do it without complaining, but Lord, it is hard. Please give me ears to hear what you are asking me to do and help me to fulfill your commands with joy in my heart. In your precious name, amen.
Jessica Fischer
Communication Specialist
American Baptist Churches
of the Rocky Mountains |
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