it’s not about the zeros

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV)

If we’re not supposed to want the stuff of this world, why do we keep counting it or God? Do we care what the number was on the check or do we care how we felt about it when we put it in the basket? Do we give with a glad heart or is it pried from our fingers, worrying about the electric bill instead of what God will do with what we gave?

It’s not about the number of zeros, it’s about our heart. God doesn’t want greedy givers, nor does he want boastful givers. It’s a lesson about it not being about us. We give so we can let go of what we call ours and let God use it as he pleases. We’re not to keep track of it or demand an accounting for it. We’re not to feel angry when the homeless man buys a beer with that $10 bill. It’s only our job and our responsibility to give.  Leave the rest up to God.

Money is such a big part of the bible because of our attachment to it. Once we learn that it’s not ours anyway, it’s so much easier to give it away properly and let God use it.

Lord money is such a strong force in this world. We all need it and we all want more of it, but you teach us to give it away and not to think about how we’ll get by.  That’s a big one for most of us, to trust you like that, but I know it’s what you want.