Giving to Honour God

I have met Christians who seem to have a complicated relationship with having nice things or owning a house.  There are some who come across as feeling guilty there are many people in the world whose standard of living that is less comfortable or lacks amenities we are accustomed to.  That same person is faced with the problem that even if they gave away everything to the point of becoming completely destitute, it would not make a notable, lasting impact in the lives of others or in the world.  It also would be sobering to give someone money or a house and find them in a worse state than before.  The sad testimony of lottery winners paints a depressing picture of loss and regret.

It is God who gives people the ability to acquire wealth for His good purposes (Deut. 8:17-18), and we are wise to heed Proverbs 3:9-10 that says, "Honour the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."  The Scripture makes the connection those who honour God will be honoured by Him, and those who are faithful stewards over what He has given shall be given more.  This isn't a formula to make millions or billions and retire, but God has promised to faithfully provide for all our needs.  In light of His generosity, love and provision for His people, we ought to be cheerful givers of ourselves to Him.  One cure for feeling guilty about having is the joy God provides by giving as led by His Spirit.

I read a passage which shares a wise perspective in regards to God's faithfulness and the fruitfulness of our labours in Leviticus 23:22:  "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God."  God did not begrudge His people for having land (He gave them as an inheritance) or enjoying a bumper crop because there were people who lacked food.  They weren't to feel guilty they had grain while others were destitute.  God commanded those He blessed with a crop to keep the poor and stranger in mind while they reaped and be intentional to leave some behind so the hungry could gather it up and eat.  They weren't to be thinking of themselves and how much more they could keep in reserve.  The fields of wealthy landowners as well as the small households had good grain, grapes and olives God commanded to be left for those who lacked.

God blessed the poor and strangers through the hard labour of landowners who obeyed Him, giving to God what was God's and also leaving some for others.  This economy of grace is very different than "seizing means of production" and wealth distribution that supposedly will put poverty and hunger in the wastebin of history.  That is a pipe dream on this planet, for Jesus said in Matthew 26:11:  "For you have the poor with you always...".  The biblical principles of working for our bread, honouring God with our firstfruits, and considering the needs of the poor and stranger are all steps of faith we should take in obedient to our awesome God, the giver of all good things.  Having food to eat was not an entitlement but a gift received by God for those who laboured for it.  Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:26:  "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"