Giving Back -- What Part of the Pie Is God Getting?

Giving Back -What part of the pie is God getting?

Psalm 50:9-12: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from you pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that is in it.

A Pastor told a story about a father that bought his child a large order of French fries from McDonalds. The child and father sat down at a table and the child started digging into the fries like there was no tomorrow. As most fathers do (I'm no exception), he reached over to take a couple of fries for himself. The child quickly reached over the pile of fries and exclaimed, "no daddy these are my fries you can't have any!" The father was amazed that his child was acting this way. He thought to himself that his child was being quite selfish. How dare he act this way? The father thought I bought the fries for him and he doesn't want to give me at least one! Then the father had a thought, how many times does he have the same attitude with God? How many times does he put his arms around "his things" and say, "no God you can't have this, it belongs to me?" I think we forget too many times who really is the owner of the stuff we posses. In this our last devotion on stewardship, I want to ask you, as I need to continually ask myself, "What piece of the pie is God getting?"

I've been asked by people, how much money should they give to the Lord. It is understandable to want to start with the tithe. Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary states in "Revolution in Generosity," A Biblical Theology of Possessions, "It is a shame that conversations about tithing often distract Christians from their real responsibilities. On the one hand, it appears that an unprecedented number of people today think that the word tithe is simply a synonym for gift or offering and have no idea that the word means to give one-tenth. On the other hand, there are still far too many people who have read neither Testament carefully enough to recognize that, in the New Testament age, no specific percentage is commanded of believers. Instead, generous, even sacrificial, giving is what is enjoined (2 Cor. 8:1-12)". What is sacrificial giving? I think of the widow's offering in Luke 21:1-4. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" Can you imagine, giving everything you have to the Lord? The widow knew that God provided for all of her needs. She didn't give Him 10% but she gave 100%. This woman was giving not a piece of what she owned but the whole, she was giving sacrificially.

Suppose you were given a pie and the giver of the pie told you to serve the pie to whoever you wanted. Without considering the giver as you began to serve the pie, you cut a large piece for your career, then you cut another piece for your family and yet another for your hobby and, oh yes, you can't forget to cut one for your sleep and down time and one tiny piece for that new car you wanted. After cutting the pie and giving each piece away, you glance up at who gave you the pie. The giver seemed familiar somehow, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it. You looked down at the pie plate and realized there wasn't any more to give to him. You gave it all away to the other important things in your life. As the giver picked up the plate and began to walk away, you look at his hands and noticed the scars on his hands caused by nails that had put him on a wooden cross. At that point, you realized who He was and all that was left for him were a few crumbs.

Friends, God doesn't need our stuff! He doesn't need our money, He needs our obedience, our devotion, our love and He deserves not the last piece of the pie, but the first piece, and dare I say the largest piece! He deserves our praise and glory! He gave us His son to die on the cross so we can enjoy Him forever. He gave it all for you and me. I want to encourage you to look at the abundant life he has so richly blessed you with. The gift He has so graciously given you. Then look around for people, churches and ministries that need to be blessed by resources that can come from you. When you begin to cut your pie and you think of all areas of your life, consider what Christ taught us when he said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40. Then give that piece of your pie as if you were giving it to Christ. -- Bernie Bostwick is Vice-President of Ambassador Advisors.

Here is the link for Bob Kauffman's article on the current economic crisis: http://www.americaskeswick.org/documents/watchmanvol1no1.pdf

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Isaiah 9-10; Ephesians 3

Great Quote: Don't change just enough to GET AWAY from your problems - change enough to SOLVE them.
Don't change your CIRCUMSTANCES to improve your life - change YOURSELF to improve your circumstances.
Don't do the SAME OLD THINGS expecting to get difference results by doing SOMETHING NEW.
Don't wait to SEE THE LIGHT to change - start changing as soon as you FEEL THE HEAT.
Don't see change as something HURTFUL that MUST be done - see it as something HELPFUL that CAN be done.
Don't avoid paying the IMMEDIATE price of change - if you will pay the ULTIMATE price of never. -- Dr. John C. Maxwell