You Cannot Out-Give God by Leah Wacek
But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
Matthew 14:16-20, ESV
Money is a valuable resource that cannot be ignored; however, Jesus warned us about putting all our importance there (Matthew 6:24). It is certainly a way in which we can serve others but not the only way. When we look at a hurting world and ask ourselves how we can help, money should be one tool in a box that holds many options.
Many times, we fail to see that we can meet needs around us in many ways - not just monetarily.
Here's a thought: The world needs your friendship, talents and time. All those things require something of you, but only sometimes does that require a withdrawal from your bank account.
Our family rule is this: give away the thing you need most.
Are you in need of a friend? Be one.
Are you in need of money? Write a check.
Could you use gas in your car? Fill up someone else's tank.
Do you need a job? Recommend someone else.
Is your house a mess? Clean up the park.
Are you short on time? Volunteer.
Would you love for someone to listen? Ask a question and stick around for the long answer.
Are your kids fighting? Tell another mom something valuable you've learned from her.
Want a new book? Give your favorite away.
Are you sick? Pray for someone else's healing. Pay someone else's medical bills. Thank a nurse.
It is a powerful practice to be generous when you are the one in need.
It's the upside down, inside out, radical Kingdom of God. It's the story of the 5 loaves and the 2 fish. We thank God for our little, give it to Him, and watch Him multiply it back to us.
Every time our family has done this, without fail, we have seen God bless us in the way that will bring Him the most glory and us the most good.
Days open up in the calendar.
Checks appear in the mail.
Things fall into place.
People show up.
We have practiced radical generosity for over 10 years and never once come up short. God’s faithfulness is astonishing. It's like tossing a boomerang into the clear blue and then, somehow, watching it come spinning back into your open hand.
Matthew chapter 14 tells the familiar story of the disciples’ panic when presented with the task of feeding over five thousand people:
Do you believe Jesus is still in the business of miraculous multiplication? The only requirement is participation. Lay down what is good and you’ll find His best.
Prayer:
God, thank you for what you have given me. I lay down this small thing. As the disciples obediently entrusted their “not enough” to you and Jesus thanked you for what seemed “little”, I recognize that you have not left me empty-handed and I trust you to fill my need.
Dig Deeper:
Read Luke 6 27-38.
Discussion Questions:
What do I need? What is keeping me from believing that God will provide? How can I give in that direction?
What is my plan for generosity?
About Leah Wacek
Teacher & Writer
Leah is an English teacher and a student of Jesus. She has been writing for several years on her blog about her family's commitment to give away 10% of their dollars and days. In addition to the financial tithe, Leah's family intentionally returns 36 days each year to the Lord. Some of those days are spent at a beloved orphanage in the Dominican Republic, while others are spent in service to their community in Minnesota. She inspires others to live generously with creative ideas and encouragement.
