Giving When it Hurts

Today's Verses -- Luke 21:1-4
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta
taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever had to really trust God for your daily bread? I read a book about Brother Lawrence, a man who decided to put his full trust in God (sorry, I can't remember the name of the book). He left his home in the same manner as the disciples -- with nothing but his cloak -- and he put full faith in God's provision. God never failed to deliver.

Compared with those who put their lives and livelihoods on the line in missionary roles, my level of trust is almost non-existent. I know that God has blessed us immeasurably and that everything we have is his, but I didn't have to consciously rely on him last night to keep our home warm.

As financial counselors, Doug and I see a lot of difficult, seemingly impossible situations. Unfortunately one of the first things people 'give up' is tithing or any level of giving...even before giving up cable, internet, or fancy cars.

I wonder if Jesus watched those in fancy robes cut back on their giving because they needed extra money that month to buy gifts for their family? Or so they could keep their membership at the local baths? It is so easy to justify that we'll get back to giving as soon as our financial situation improves. In Malachi 3:8, God calls this robbery.

God asks us to give regardless of our situation, and he never fails to return by "throwing open the floodgates of heaven and pouring out so much blessing that we will not have room enough for it." Have you committed to let him bless you this year, regardless of your situation?