Giving

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

Most believers understand that giving is to be from the heart and not from a preprogrammed motive. We may go somewhere and have a number in mind, even have it in our pocket ready to give. Holy Spirit brings another number to mind and we fight the thought. We already made that decision we think. If we give out of that early decision, we are giving out of our flesh and our logical mind. If we give in to the Holy Spirit, we are giving out of our heart. Praise God.

Then we see a homeless person and think things like: "I bet he will just buy a bottle of wine or cigarettes or worse." "Let me buy him lunch and then I will know what the money is going for." Giving at all to that homeless person is an act of kindness, but needing to know where the money goes is earthly and not of the heart. Serving others does not give us the right to how decide how others are to use what we give them. As we allow Him, Holy Spirit will show us the who and the how much. Then it is for us to obey.

All of it belongs to God in the first place. Who are we to decide what happens with His money? Even in our giving to the church we attend, we should not be looking to see how they spend our money. It is not ours to begin with. We give what Holy Spirit tells us to give and that is that. The responsibility for what it is used for is now on the church, not us. And once give we do not get to take it back. That would be asking God for a refund.

Thank you Father for allowing me to have an abundance to give to others. Thank you for allowing me and showing me how to be a blessing to them and not hoarding it for my selfish desires. In Jesus name, I pray.