January 13: An Odd Offering
January 13
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. - Deuteronomy 16:17
An Atlanta-area church recently faced an interesting dilemma. An anonymous attendee dropped a usual gift into the offering plate. It was the winning Georgia Lottery ticket worth $80,000. Such an offering would generate a variety of opinions in many churches. But most of us would agree on this -the secret to sustain stewardship isn't in lotteries but in lordship.
If Jesus is Lord of all, He is Lord over our finances. He is Lord over our income and our spending. He is Lord over our financial involvement in His work. When we support ministries He lays on our hearts, we're not really giving to those ministries. We're giving to Him.
These are critical days for the Lord's work and for His workers. In many places, progress is faltering for lack of funds. Perhaps too many Christians are overspending on themselves when they should be economizing for the Kingdom. The cause of christ isn't going to be advanced by lottery tickets or lavish lifestyles, but by the faithfulness ov those who proclaim Him Lord of all.
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Giving is an act of worship, and so every worshipper must be one of God's givers, whether rich or poor. The mites God values as much as the millions. - A.T. Pierson
