Money. Yes, this is the sermon we all hate to hear on Sunday morning. Is he talking to me? Am I using my money wisely? How do I give when I feel we are just scraping by? Philip and I have had the opportunity to be in plenty and to be in want, and in both circumstances, I think we have had the exact same feeling: a desire to be generous with our funds, yet a small, nagging voice that tells us--"Don't be unwise. Don't give too much because it may run out, and where would you be in an emergency?" So, we conservatively give and hang on to enough to handle most of life's unexpected costs. We give with a bit of apprehension and that robs us of joy.
The amount of money we have in our bank account doesn't change this feeling because how we feel about money is not a matter of finances, but a matter of the heart. In the Bible, it is clear that every cent we have is a gift of God; it is clear that we are only stewards of His money; it is clear that we should not hoard our resources at the expense of others; and it is clear that we should give from a heart of joy, not fear. But, when it comes down to it, we don't really--deep-down, in that part that sleeps well at night even when we don't know what tomorrow brings--trust God. I see this so beautifully with my children. Any time we discuss people who have less than we do, they are ready to empty every cent from their piggy banks to give to those in need. Why? Because they trust that we will replenish those bank accounts, that we will provide for their needs, that we have endless funds. They have seen us feed them, clothe them, and care for them, and they don't question that there will be provision tomorrow. So, they give freely and joyfully.
When you are in the midst of an adoption, an unfortunate byproduct is that you think about money and your finances a great deal. The budget gets beautifully tight. :) It gives you the opportunity to evaluate how much you really have and how much you can really give. It is both exhilarating and terrifying. One of the best resources I have found is the Narratives by George Muller (I downloaded the narratives free on Amazon Kindle and am including a link to a blog devoted to Mr. Muller here). Mr. Muller lived in the 1800s and raised several million pounds to care for orphans through prayer alone. He prayed, and God provided. God's provision increased his faith to pray more. It created a beautiful relationship between he and His Lord. When Muller speaks about His reliance on God versus man, he recognizes that those who trust in the Lord will never be confounded. Men may no longer be able to help or may see fit to give aid to other causes. But, "in leaning upon the living God alone, we are BEYOND disappointment, and BEYOND being forsaken because of death, or want of means . . .How precious to have learned in any measure to stand with God alone in the world, and yet to be happy, and to know that surely no good thing shall be withheld from us whilst we walk uprightly!"
We are still in prayer and struggle about whether or not we should make any efforts to raise funds for the adoption. We are working to find the balance between complete reliance and lazy assumptions. But, one thing we do know: The Lord has endless funds, and if this is His will, He alone will provide. So, if we do fundraise in the future, please know that our request is not a reliance on you to act. If you feel led to give elsewhere, please have freedom to do that without guilt or concern. However, if you feel the Lord is leading you to a greater dependence on Him by asking you to steward His funds in this way, we invite you to celebrate with us. Most importantly, we look forward to watching God act mightily in answer to prayer, for our faith to be strenghtened and for our joy to increase.
No comments:
Post a Comment