2024_11_01 Insight Post- Karen Heal
This week’s reading- Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4
A few years ago, after the Christmas Eve service, we gave our IHOP server an outrageous tip. It was actually very fun. We decided to do it while we were eating our pancakes, and our whole family was excited to pay the tab. We didn’t get to watch him receive the tip, but we did have joy that we talked about for days, imagining how happy we made him, working on a holiday night when he probably wished he was at home.
Sometimes, I think God feels that way when He blesses us: “I can’t wait to see how excited they’ll be! It’s so much fun to give them good gifts!” Giving is God’s nature, and when we imitate His nature, we have the joy of generosity that doesn’t come any other way. No one would criticize a poor widow for skipping her tithe. However, she refused to be denied her joy. She gained Jesus’ respect, and she showed her Lord that she trusted Him to provide for her.
It’s human nature to feel like we need to hold onto things. We believe the lie that there’s not enough—money, jobs, benefits, resources, respect, hospitality, compassion, etc.—to go around. A truth we learned from A Bigger Story is that we don’t have to compete with others for a piece of the pie—because God’s the baker! He just makes more pies. When God gives us blessings, He intends us to give them away. I wonder how many blessings I leave on the table when I hoard the ones I have.
Our family gives to New Hope with automatic withdrawal, and we tithe on the gross. Then we donate to other causes that touch our hearts, like Feed My Starving Children. We don’t mean this to be bragging like some showy rich people at the temple, but we’re testifying that God has kept us secure and comfortable. Should He want us to trust Him with less money, we may not enjoy the lesson, but we’ll know it’s for our benefit, and we’ll be okay.
You don’t need to race others to be first in line. When you trust God, He will never let you miss out on what He wants for you. And His generosity is just too much!
Karen Heal
Small Group Leader & Unbound Team Member