Money. That word can just make me cringe. It can make me twist and get all nervous. Too much of it has the ability to make you bitter and hard. Not enough of it can also make you bitter and hard. The rich never seem to understand what the poor are going through and vice versa.
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Shane and I are not poor but let me tell you now, we aren't rich either. We are rich in Christ, love, happiness and joy but money...not so much. Our bills are paid, groceries are bought and gas is put in the vehicles each week but by the next payday we are counting pennies. I'm sure that is how most houses are right now.
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We live on a strict budget. Month by month I sit down and budget out the bills versus our paychecks. Shane gets paid weekly but I only get paid twice a month. Week after week I often feel like I am juggling this bill and throwing that one back up in the air.
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After I was saved on September 28, 2008, I felt a heavy burden on my heart regarding tithing. Shane and I had "tried to tithe" before but we just didn't have the money and would quit. I pleaded with God "Let me get a few bills paid off first and then I'll start tithing." You know what? He didn't care what MY plan was. He just continued to press upon me week after week that we were not within his will because we were not tithing. One Sunday afternoon I sat Shane down and told him that God was pressing upon me that we needed to tithe every dime that came into our house. "I agree" was his response. So, from that moment on we committed to tithing each week.
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Well, the first week rolled around and I looked at the paycheck, looked at the budget, looked at what our tithe was and I said "Lord, how in the world are we going to eat and get gas?" All was silent. I wrote out our tithe check, paid the bills and held my breath. Guess what? We got groceries and believe it or not we put gas in the vehicles too. The next week rolled around and it was the same outcome. Week after week God has provided for my family. Our salaries have not increased nor have we paid a bill off. We are living on faith. We are living on the promises of God. He will provide for our every NEED! It as if God takes our paychecks, runs it through his hands and multiplies it.
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I'm sure everyone knows the story of Jesus feeding five thousand. In verses 39-44 it says "Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand." I like the all ate and were satisfied part. From two fish and five loaves of bread Jesus satisified the hunger of five thousand men. We have no idea exactly how many were fed because it only refers to men. I wonder how many women and children were fed that day too! Next, look carefully at how much was left over...twelve basketfuls. Not only did God provide for the immediate need of the people, there were leftovers!
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Today let God take your two fish and five loaves of bread, filter it through his hands, satisfy your needs and then provide some leftovers! What do you have to do? Just believe!
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