How Much Am I Giving?

I was listening to a podcast sermon, with the focus on not being able to serve two masters. It’s a well known verse that is sometimes taken out of context. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) I would argue that this extends beyond money, although that is the most common form of idolatry. From a previous post, idolatry isn’t necessarily worshipping a clay statue in your room. It is trusting in something more than God, believing it is superior. It is something that distracts us from God, promising something only He can provide. This begs the question; how much am I giving to God?

This isn’t about finances and how much you give to charity or church. Not everyone is blessed financially. But we all have gifts and talents. We all have something to offer, something that only we can bring to the table. The church the sermon was from likes to use the phrase “bring your first and best”. This may be based on the line from Proverbs , “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (3:9-10) So it isn’t about donating the most amount of money or more than your neighbor; it’s not a competition. While that is good, it is about bringing whatever you are “wealthy” in. Maybe it is your time because you work a part time job, being able to volunteer in something that benefits your community a few hours a week. Or it is the knowledge or faith you have that you can bestow on your kids or nieces and nephews. It is sharing whatever you have with others that is the fruit of your labor to honor God by improving the world around you.

The best part is, any amount is enough because God doesn’t care about what you are giving or how much. He cares about your heart. He want’s all of that. He wants all of you. There is a short prayer I like; “Everything I have and everything I am comes from You. Without You I am nothing, but with You, I am everything.” Everything is already His so He doesn’t “need” what is already His. God doesn’t need anything. He does desire us. And why not fulfill that desire? Why not give it all? Why not take all that you are, good bad and ugly, and give it to God? What would happen if you gave yourself entirely to the only thing that matters?

It is one of the hardest things to do because logic will likely get in the way. I struggle with this, always planning and figuring what I have left to give to God. Instead, I want to learn to give to God FIRST and then use whatever is left. What would happen to my life if I gave my time talent and treasures to God first?