Andrew Carnegie’s wife was so fond of classical music that at the end of every year, she insisted that Andrew pay any outstanding debts incurred by the New York Philharmonic Symphony. Finally, Andrew became weary and faced the symphony’s board of directors with this challenge: “I can’t keep doing this year in and year out. You need to go out and raise half of the money needed, and I will give the other half.”
Within a few days the board members called him with good news. “Mr. Carnegie, we have met your request. We have half of the money we need.”
Carnegie was pleased, applauded their efforts, and said he would fulfill his end of the agreement. Before he hung up the telephone, he asked, “Where did you get the other half?”
There was a pause and then the answer: “Mrs. Carnegie!”
Generosity.
When I first began a true walk with God, I was not a generous giver at all! I was tormented by a spirit of lack. I came from a home where abject poverty was simply a part of our lives. It was not unusual for the children to have very few clothes, and the ones we had were mostly hand-me-downs given to us. Shoes were often tattered and worn. My sister and I were recently reminiscing about how we lived in such poverty.
I remember being in a reading circle with several other students in my first-grade class. Bill was also in my reading circle. The teacher walked away from the circle for a moment, and Bill got on the floor in the center of the group and laid down. His head was right by my foot, and he began to laugh. He exclaimed for everyone to hear, “You have holes in the bottom of your shoes.” I was so humiliated. My sister recalled the bottom of her shoes being so worn that the soles were barely attached to the shoes. As she walked down the school hall, the soles would flap, and kids would laugh.
So many of my years as a teenager were spent wishing I had money, lots of money. I never wanted to feel poverty again.
After Jesus found me at age seventeen, I began a path of learning the ways of God and trying to live those ways. (Trust me when I tell you that I am sure my guardian angels thought I would never make it.) Here I am fifty years later, and I hardly recognize that young woman of seventeen. Thank God for His patience!
One area that was so difficult for me was the area of money. After we were married, I realized that I married a very generous man who loved to give to God and to others. When Gaylon explained tithing to me and thought that was a great starting place for our giving, I was like, “Are you crazy? That is a lot of money. Think about what we could buy with that! What if we run out of money?” I resented when we gave money to the church, and Gaylon was the pastor!
Over time, I began to ask God to help me defeat the worry of lack. It was a battle! I could trust God with my eternity but not with my wallet. Following Jesus financially is an intentional decision that I made, and I did not feel it at the moment. Fast forward fifty years, and I am amazed at the change God has brought in me. I now understand what it is to be a cheerful giver.
My husband is no longer a pastor and is retired from vocational ministry. This article is not self-serving at all. I am not even going to take an offering at the end! I am not a fan of “arm-twisting” appeals for money. Do not even get me started on that!
What is my rule of thumb for giving? Give as much as you can, whenever you can. Look for opportunities to bless others, and at times, if possible, do it anonymously! That is so much fun! We are not talking about simply opening up the coffers and giving to every cause that comes along. While I believe we are called to freely give, I also know we are not called to give carelessly.
Money is important and it is on most people’s minds a lot, especially in this time of inflation we face as a nation. Please remember that every time you give, it is an opportunity to remember that God is the master over everything — including money. Giving reminds us that Jesus is the source of everything we have.
When we give, let us be motivated by God and not guilt. We do not have to repay God for His gift of salvation—a self-righteous, foolish, and impossible endeavor. Let the motivation be to praise, worship, and honor God, for no price tag can be placed on the work done at Calvary.
I am so grateful for deliverance from a tormenting spirit of lack. I have heard it said we should live like there is no tomorrow, and that has some truth. I also want to give like there is no tomorrow. I want to be generous. How about you?
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7.