At church we have been talking about tithing. Our sermons are far different than what I hear most modern pastors teach us. We have learned that giving is supposed be an overflow of joy for the blessings you already have. Giving should be from the heart and there really is no percentage on it. I mean you cannot take from God what is already his.
I know some readers may not be believers and that is fine but believer or not I believe it is still our duty to give back and help our brother and sisters of this world strive for better. I am going to pose this same challenge to my church members but since I have not been able to see them I want to charge you readers with the same challenge. GIVE FROM YOUR OVERFLOW!
Since our giving should be from joy of our overflow, for most of us this should be very easy. A lady at my job told me she liked my sweater. It actually had a skirt to go with it. At the time she told me she liked it I told her I would take it off and give it to her if she wanted it. She proceeded to tell me that she felt it looked nicer on me. However, the next day I brought her the sweater and the skirt to go with it. I was so happy to do so. I did it with joy and happy that it didn’t bother me to let her have it. Unfortunately, she could not fit it but when she came back to my desk she told me she appreciated it. She asked me to pray for her because she was having a difficult time feeling happy at work because she was not experiencing any growth and she keeps getting administrative jobs that do not teach her about the industry in depth. Low and behold I am in the same position and feel the same way.
I have done some other things since this sermon that I choose not to go into detail about. I’m speaking for motivation for someone else, not to receive recognition for all my good deeds. But…this month I have really succeeded in giving and doing it cheerfully and with a pure heart. In this particular situation I felt glad to know that there is someone who is a believer like me and still feels discouraged at times. Many times we (I) feel liking I am failing when I feel discouraged because my faith is weak. Yet now I have someone praying for me and vice versa. In my other situation I am simply humbled that I could help in way that lets me know God is using me.
Maybe you are not a believer but either way to be helpful to someone else is a joyful feeling. To be able to do or give with out anger, strife, or heartache is a wonderful feeling and it shows growth and maturity. It helps one to feel used where in other area he or she may feel like failures. For us parents….it helps set a standard and example for our kids .
So for my challenge….I challenge you to do two things.
- If someone says they like something of yours give it to them. (I am not asking you to give away your LV) But if someone likes a scarf or a shirt and they can fit it…give it to them.
- If you hear a honest need that you can meet, do it.
A little goes an awful long way and if you learn to be a blessing to someone else pay attention to how blessed you already are to be such a blessing.
Stay motivated until next week
The Sophisticated Boy
thesophisticatedboy.com 