Let Go of What’s In Your Hand
Unleash the power of generosity in your life.
Giving and generosity have gotten a bad rap over the years. You can change your current situation if you do not like where you are financially. God enjoys it when his people prosper. It's a sign that serving God actually works. Deuteronomy 8:18 says,
"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."
You have God’s permission; who else’s permission do you need? Simply put, God does not want you to be broke all the time. 3 John 2 clarifies this truth:
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
You may say that if God wants me to prosper, He will prosper me. That's about as wise as saying that if God wants me to comb my hair, He will. I am not saying that God wants everyone to be wealthy. Wealth could be the worst thing that could happen to some people. However, I do believe that God wants everyone to be generous. Second Corinthians 9:11 states,
"Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God."
That means that wealth has a purpose. I think Margaret Thatcher had that scripture in mind when she famously said, "The Good Samaritan was the Good Samaritan because he had some money."
I was raised by parents who did not have much money, which fostered a broke mentality in me. I went to the church as a kid, and they began to talk to me about the law of sowing and reaping. They taught me Genesis 8:22, which declares:
“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
Think about it. None of the above has ever ceased. I was sitting in chapel one day at Bible college, and I had no money. A missionary began to share his story, and God spoke to me and told me to give him $50 a month for one year. It was hard to believe it was God since he knew how much was in my bank account—zero. However, I took Him up on that and was miraculously able to give $50 a month to a missionary. The next year, someone paid my entire school bill! As I thanked God for that, I felt another impression from Him: “We can do this your way or My way.” Needless to say, I've been doing it God's way ever since.
If you have been around the church for some time, you've heard the story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17. Elijah was in a horrible famine, and God sent him to a poor woman to care for his needs. When the widow woman heard that she was to feed the prophet, she reminded him that she had only one meal for her and her son and that they would die. He made a bold move and asked her to give him that meal! You should read the story. That single act of generosity on her part was the seed that got her out of trouble. That one act fed her for the duration of the entire famine.
If you want to get out of your current financial situation, you must be willing to do it in God's way instead of yours. God may use someone else to tell you to do something radical. The widow wasn't hearing from God, but she was willing to hear from the man of God. It is important to know that allowing God's word to become the architect of our lives changes everything.
So, what are you going to give away this week? At first, I started out by giving 10% of my income to the Lord because that's what the Bible told God’s people to do. Then, I graduated into New Testament giving (Luke 6:38), and the windows of heaven began to open:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 NKJV
When we get into New Testament giving, we switch from the Road of Reason to the Highway of Revelation. God will give you ideas you never had, and you will begin to partner with Him in everything. It is a total game-changer! You have to be willing to hear His voice and obey. When Dr. Cho, who built the largest church in the world, was asked how he did it, he said, “I pray and obey.”
Today should be the poorest you will ever have to be. I live around many farmers, and they will tell you the number one ingredient for a good crop is to find some good soil. If I were you, I would join a spirit-filled, Bible-believing, generous church and start sowing many seeds. The quality of the soil determines the future of the seed.
And remember, when you let go of what's in your hand, God lets go of what's in His hand, which is always bigger than yours!
Thank you for reading and participating. Please forward this to a friend or two. :-)