When our son Daniel was a few years younger we had an incident during worship that taught us a lesson on giving. We would prompt our children for the offering by always telling
them that it was time to give money to God. On this particular Sunday, as a man came to our aisle with the tray and Daniel put in his money, he said, in reference to the man who carried it off, "There goes God!"
Children associate things differently than we do because they do not know all the facts. The great advantage children have (yes, they have an advantage) is that they bear less responsibility. Their roof, meals, and clothes are provided. When it comes to the offering, my children put in their money without an ounce of worry. They don't know what a budget is yet. In fact, with great anticipation our 5 year-old daughter begins to say about the offering plate, "Here it comes!" She can't wait to give her money away.
Adults are often just the opposite. We worry and forget that God takes care of sparrows (Matt. 10:29-32). We know about the house payment, the car payment, and the other bills. Sometimes when we allow Satan to let us care too much about physical things, we become insecure in our heavenly treasures. This leads those of us who are adults to express about the offering plate, "Oh no, here it comes!"
Are you secure enough in your relationship with God to give to Him without worrying? Perhaps we need to be more trusting like our children. Perhaps we need to be looking with anticipaton down the aisle for God to come and take what is already rightfully His.
Children associate things differently than we do because they do not know all the facts. The great advantage children have (yes, they have an advantage) is that they bear less responsibility. Their roof, meals, and clothes are provided. When it comes to the offering, my children put in their money without an ounce of worry. They don't know what a budget is yet. In fact, with great anticipation our 5 year-old daughter begins to say about the offering plate, "Here it comes!" She can't wait to give her money away.
Adults are often just the opposite. We worry and forget that God takes care of sparrows (Matt. 10:29-32). We know about the house payment, the car payment, and the other bills. Sometimes when we allow Satan to let us care too much about physical things, we become insecure in our heavenly treasures. This leads those of us who are adults to express about the offering plate, "Oh no, here it comes!"
Are you secure enough in your relationship with God to give to Him without worrying? Perhaps we need to be more trusting like our children. Perhaps we need to be looking with anticipaton down the aisle for God to come and take what is already rightfully His.
"Now
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown
into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ~
Matthew 6:30
Great post, Jeremiah! When Elissa was little, we would tell her that she was supposed to give the money to Jesus. One Sunday, my father was the one passing the trays where we were sitting and Elissa quickly piped up and said, "Mommy, that's not Jesus, that's Pa!"
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