giving

"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.' And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

I had a conversation recently with someone about how I wish I was able to give more. I wish that I had more money to give away. I wish I had more time to give away. I wish I could help people more. The person with whom I was talking seemed surprised by this because she replied with "but you give more than anyone else I know."

I thought about this. I knew she meant that I gave up so much in order to come to Cambodia, to love the people here, to live among them. And, sure, I guess I did have to give things up to move here, but most of that seems pretty miniscule to me. I knew she also mean that I gave my life, but I feel like that is not dependent upon where we are. God asks us to yield our lives to Him, there is no physical location mentioned. So, I don't think it should matter whether I am in Cambodia or Indiana or any other place on the globe. I am required to surrender my life to Him just the same.

I simply want to give to people. I want to meet needs. I want to bless people. I want to be able to take a friend out to dinner and be able to pay for their meal without thinking that doing so may be a real strain on my budget. I want to be able to buy fruit for kids I know who only ever eat rice porridge. I want to be able to give more to the local church so that they can increase their outreach--because their outreach is 10 times (minimum) more effective than mine. And, it isn't that I haven't or don't do these things, but I want to do them MORE!

God has challenged me to evaluate how I am living and how I am giving. I encourage you to do the same because the truth is that you can't out-give God, but I might like to try...