One Saturday a few weeks ago as I headed to the grocery store, in addition to my own groceries, I intended to purchase groceries from a list given to us at church for donating Thanksgiving bags in connection with the Westerville Area Resource Ministry. I decided to purchase one of each item listed, a meal for one family. When I finished my grocery shopping, I headed out to my car and only after I started driving did I realize that I had neglected to pick up the items to donate to another family. I was wrestling with the fact that I was tired after a full week of work and just wanted to pick up a snack from McDonalds and head home. As I approached the line to the drive thru, in my mind I clearly heard, "so you have time to get a snack for yourself, but not time to help a family in need?" At that point, of course, I had to head back to the store to pick up the items for the other family. About halfway through my list, a voice came to my mind again, asking why not buy for two families? So I started shopping all over again making sure that I bought two of each item. Afterwards I headed to pick up my snack at McDonalds and moved on with my day.
At church a couple of Sundays later, our pastor reminded us that we are rich in the eyes of 95% of the world just because we own a refrigerator...and we have more than one set of clothing...and we have food whenever we need it. Something to think about, for sure!
The next week I picked up an Operation Christmas Child shoebox to fill up. Trying to get "ahead of the game" this time, I actually picked up two boxes. The following week when I went back and saw that there were still a number of shoeboxes left to be filled, I picked up two more...double the fun for me as I shopped to fill them.
All of this is not in any way to boast about my giving, but as always, I try to share what God impresses on my heart in hopes that it might encourage someone else. If 100% of my income and everything I own is God's that He has graciously given me, then I should be able to be that cheerful giver that God loves (2 Corinthians 9:7). I should easily give back a couple of meal, a few shoeboxes, and even the 10% tithe that I am asked to give as a believer. As Chip Ingram writes, we don't give to get something materially or other blessings but as 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 says, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion..." Chip then quotes Randy Alcorn, "God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving." Ingram goes on to explain that he and his wife have drawn a financial income line for what they need to live on. Anything over that line is what they are committed to give away. That's quite a challenge!
In this Thanksgiving season, I'm going to do my best to thank God for what I have by giving to others and I am going to continue to challenge myself to give more sacrificially.