There’s no doubt in a Christian’s heart that they need to be giving to the Lord. The concept of the tithe is hotly debated, but nevertheless demonstrated many times in the Scriptures. But is that the extent of our obligation? Are we required to give anything more than God’s share of our money?
First of all, let’s get one thing straight: nothing we have comes from any source other than the gracious provision of God. This includes our money, our time, our possessions, and our bodies. They all belong to the Lord and need to be used to bring glory to Him. Am I saying that we should forsake all material things and dedicate our lives to closed-off worship of God? Of course not. But I am saying that we need to make sure that we are giving where we are able.
This post actually has nothing to do with money, so you can unclench and relax a little. I’m talking about your time. The thing is, most Christians give God a couple of hours on Sunday in church and, if they are feeling generous, a few minutes in the morning for devotions and the occasional prayer throughout the week. Is that really all God deserves?
Here’s a couple of examples of people who have recently inspired me. First, there’s a couple who realizes that even their home comes from God. So they offer their home to whomever might be in need of a place to stay. Even though their house has only three bedrooms, they’ve had up to ten people staying there, not including their own family! What a great example of a servant’s heart!
Another example is of a gentleman that I know who dedicates his life to being the hands and feet of Jesus. In fact, it’s a rule in his family that they will always stop and help someone who’s broken down on the side of the road. It doesn’t matter where they’re headed to, they will stop and show people the love of Christ.
I am so humbled by these two stories because when it comes time for me to serve, I tend to turn into an excuse factory, churning out endless reasons why I can’t do what I’m supposed to be doing. But these two families don’t let little things like a small house or a busy schedule stop them from serving the Lord.
How many of us, when faced with an opportunity to serve, find innumerable reasons why we can’t? It doesn’t even have to be in such drastic ways as the two examples above. Think about the small ways you can give to the Lord. One of the easiest things to do is volunteer to serve at your church. By showing up an hour early or leaving an hour later you can have a profound impact on the ministries taking place in the church. An hour of your time over the course of an entire week doesn’t sound like too much to give, does it? If it does, then I would recommend meditating on what God gave to us and see if you still feel the same way afterwards. Because, unlike watching football or your favorite television show, or spending time in a good book, the work you do for the Lord has eternal benefits for both you and the ones you serve.
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT