The last day of the month has grown to be one of my favorite days. This is the day that our family goes “shopping” through the World Vision Gift Catalog to “spend” the portion of our discretionary charitable giving that was not spent during the month. Sometimes we give to feed the hungry. Sometimes we give to provide medicine for the ill. Sometimes we even buy a goat. Forget about Black Friday; the last day of the month is the best shopping day of the year, twelve-times over!
Before you even have a chance to think good thoughts about us, know this: we were not always generous givers.
We were keepers.
Actually, we were spenders. Spending money we didn’t have on things we didn’t need. And in gathering possessions for ourselves, we were keepers of God’s money. We kept for ourselves that which God commanded us to give.
Give generously to [the poor] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)
As God melted our hardened hearts toward the least of these, it has caused us to release our grip on our things and our money. Keeping has lost its appeal. It no longer delights us as it once did. We are no longer held tightly in its grip. It promised joy. We are finally seeing the lie.
And we are learning that giving brings true joy.
So, how about you? What is your favorite day of the month?
And are you a giver or a keeper?
In hope,
Shelli
Has the Lord given you a heart for the Least of These? Do you have a story or ministry that you’d like to share? If so, please link the direct URL of your post into the link-up below. Also, kindly use our community graphic in your post to help us find one another.
This linky list is now closed.
About Shelli Bourque