(Editor's note: See HERE for other parts of this series and other resources for spiritual growth.)
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:24-25).
Many things grow when we humble ourselves to give God time, energy, and money from our lives. God’s work grows certainly, but the work that surprises many is how God grows the believer.
Spiritual battle
The best way someone can win a battle, according to Jim Wallace, the former head of Australia’s Special Forces, is to destroy the opponent’s resources. This, along with some of the ideas below, came to me from If God Will Provide, Why Do I Have to Ask for Money? by Rick Dunham. While it is written for leaders of Christian organizations, it is a good book for any believer.
Knowing the destruction of resources is the battleground, does it make sense that the Bible tells us to guard our hearts and that out of it flow the issues of life?
The Devil wants to limit your wisdom and willingness to give from the time, energy, and money in your life.
It is necessary for me to share how I fell for the Devil’s subterfuge on giving. Maybe this will help you in your spiritual growth too.
To prepare the ground of our hearts, let each of us ask: In what ways am I currently glorifying and appreciating God with my giving? Do I more easily and joyfully give time, energy, or money? Am I treasuring any of these more than I treasure God?
Time & energy
I used to give more easily with my time and energy than with money. For example, I loved helping set up and tear down sets for Easter and Christmas shows. One day during the set build, I got a reputation – whether it was good or bad, I’ll let you decide.
I had spent enough time volunteering that I knew sometimes the sets went up quickly. That day wasn’t trending to be one of those, based on the first couple of hours that morning. This concerned me, so I approached the person God put on my heart.
“Tony, I need to tell you something,” I said. “There are a lot of volunteers here, and every one of us has a life outside of this today.” Tony had headed up the set build a few times before, but no one was officially in charge that day.
“I want to promise you that I will work until midnight if I stay busy,” I said. “But if I’m just standing around for 15 minutes with nothing to do, I’m leaving.” We talked a few minutes more, and then something amazing happened.
He could have told me to just “Go, we’ll handle it” or “Just help as long as you can.” Instead, he decided to use his time, energy, and skills in a different way that day. He had developed some of these skills operating his construction business.
He never officially took charge, but he decided (Thank you, God!) to become the person who found and removed logjams that slowed or stopped progress. We finished that set build in record time and were done by 3:00 – less than nine hours. Going until midnight and then working the next day after service was the normal pace.
For many productions after that, people knew me because of my “Fifteen-minute rule” because Tony made sure to tell them.
Tony glorified God that day with his time and energy by using skills that allowed volunteers to better use their time and energy. God got even more glory from the volunteers who accomplished something that had never been done before and who then had time for the rest of their Saturday.
But what about money?
In 1992, James Carville, a Democratic strategist, coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Money – it drives much of the economy, the vote, and lives. The Devil loves when money holds a spot in our hearts instead of God.
For well over a decade, I gave no money to my church or any parachurch organizations except begrudgingly. I was stupid because I was foolish in my sin. I thought time and energy could act as counterweights instead of giving money.
We all have our rationalizations that are often nothing but accommodations for our sins. “Time is money” was one I used as I gave time but not money. Or “Nah, God doesn’t need my money,” was another.
Of course, I was factually correct but faithfully wrong. Or was I? Have you fallen for one of the Devil’s traps as I did?
I was factually wrong because I can compare it to the standard of the Bible. The error is in the word “my” in “my money.” Consider verses like Ecclesiastes 5:19 or these:
And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you (1 Chronicles 29:13-14).
In verse 13, we see the offering of time and energy through appreciation and praise. They glorified God.
Let’s back up a verse though:
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all (1 Chronicles 29:12).
The whole point of giving – whether time or energy but especially money – is whether we have wholly and truly given ourselves to God. How can God fully occupy our hearts when our hearts treasure something more than Him?
Lord, give us the wisdom to know and apply your Word rightly so we can glorify you with the blessings you give us. You are worthy and deserve all glory, honor, and praise. Let us joyfully give you that and more. Amen.
