Finders Keepers
In our house, we have a finders keepers rule when it comes to laundry. Since I do most of the laundry, I often am the keeper of lots of things…sometimes not so spectacular, like ear plugs or screws; but sometimes, I find money. Usually a coin here or there, maybe a dollar, but one day I hit the jackpot!! $10!!
It’s not the $10 that excited me so much as it confirms what we say in church every Sunday as the offering is taken up. For some, maybe you’ve memorized it and you don’t really think about what it means, but I promise…I’m always looking to see how God is going to bless me! We recite “Today, we’re believing the Lord for jobs and better jobs, more money, less hours, benefits, sales and commissions, checks in the mail, gifts and surprises, finding money, bills paid off, settlements, inheritance, rebates and returns, debts demolished, royalties received, favor, and success to the Kingdom.” The last one used to be “paying off the church,” but since we did that a few years ago, praise God, we had to change it up.
Each of these is a way God can bless you financially when you tithe. He can bless you in MANY ways, but He is happy to reward a cheerful giver. The bible says in Malachi 3:10, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” No more need? So much that you don’t know what to do with it except give it away and bless others? Proverbs 11:24 says, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Tithing and offering your time and talent has rewards attached, but you have to give with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude, with a humble spirit, without demands or impure expectations of what you should get back.
This time of year, we might cut back on our giving because of the expense of the holidays, but the truth of the matter is it is the BEST time to give. Remember the Grinch…the stingiest, grumpiest scrooge of all? He learned that when he stole Christmas from Whoville, it didn’t steal their joy, it actually brought them closer together. He gave all their gifts, decorations and food back and his heart grew “three sizes that day!” When you give from the heart…no strings attached…your heart will grow too. A satisfying feeling of doing good for others comes over you and warms your soul; it will spur you on to do it again.
You will FIND that when you do the book…when you become a faithful and cheerful giver, you KEEP your joy, because it is so true…it is better to give than to receive. FINDERS KEEPERS!