A couple of weeks ago, our Mothers On Mission ministry gathered up lightly used clothes for a local elementary school. I stood in the lunchroom surveying the neatly organized, second-hand clothes. I’ll admit, a little root of pride began to sprout deep within my heart. Clothes, hats, scarves, and coats of all sizes were donated to help kids in need. That’s when God began to press on my heart. He pressed so hard it made me uncomfortable…and it will you too.
God spoke a question to my soul that day. Am I tossing away my leftovers to the poor? The answer is yes. Am I donating my family’s scraps so I can rid my home of excess “stuff” that I didn’t need in the first place? The answer is yes. Am I donating “things” to make me feel good about myself or to truly help others? This is a personal inventory I need to take.
The question isn’t, “How much can I spare, but how much can I give?” I don’t think when I stand before the Creator of the Universe, He will say, “Kelli, I don’t think you kept enough for yourself.” Do you?
God doesn’t desire or deserve my leftovers. I believe He doesn’t want us to give our leftovers to people in need either. Christ in us will move us to give generously, abundantly, passionately, boldly, and sacrificially. Christ in us will compel us to give more than we think we can afford. This kind of giving kicks us out of our comfort zones and into a life of complete biblical surrender.
This is what I want, don’t you?
I love when God challenges me this way.
Do you follow Jesus or are you a follower of Jesus?
If you are a follower of Jesus then let’s ask ourselves, “What would happen if we stopped donating our left over time, left over money, left over clothes to the poor and began giving our surplus? Our best? Remember, God loves “a cheerful giver.” The giving can’t be out of religious duty. It must be out of our absolute delight in serving Him.
Instead of tossing out an old blanket because our tastes have changed, what if we gave away our newly purchased Pottery Barn comforter? What if we left the warmth of our homes tonight and headed downtown to hand out blankets to those shivering in the cold? I am doing this soon. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Let’s call our “what-if’s” into action today.
He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
Praise the LORD!
~ Psalm 113:5-9
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
~ 2 Corinthinans 8:9
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