Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. —
2 Corinthians 9:10
A pastor once asked a farmer in his congregation, "If you had $200, would you give $100 to the Lord?"
"Yes I would, Pastor," the farmer said.
So the pastor asked, "If you had two cows, would you give one of those cows to the Lord?"
"Yes, I would," he replied.
Then the pastor said, "Now, if you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord?"
"Now that isn't fair," the farmer said. "You know I have two pigs."
As long as it is theoretical, the idea of giving is fine with us. But when it gets real, we find all sorts of excuses just to avoid it. We give, not to receive more but because we're given.
God makes a radical promise in the Book of Malachi: "Prove Me now in this . . . if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (
Malachi 3:10). God will bless as we give to Him.