Today's blog is a confession. I missed it yesterday! I was standing in line at a Chinese restaurant behind an elderly man who was trying to pay his bill. He seemed somewhat disoriented and appeared to be trying to pay with a food stamp card perhaps considering it a debit card. In any event, the card was repetitively declined. Standing there somewhat confused and dismayed, the man at the register finally told him to "catch it next time you are in". Seemingly embarrassed, the elderly man and his granddaughter looked at each other in puzzlement as they walked out of the restaurant.
And then it happened. There was a tug at my heart to pay the bill. For a brief moment there was a tension like Howie Mandel asking for "Deal or No Deal!" I foolishly didn't take the deal. And the truth is, I knew it right away! And then this morning my devotions come of out of II Corinthians 9 (Pillar 10 in my book 12 Pillars and a Prayer) and I realize all the more that I missed a golden opportunity to bless someone as I have been blessed. Freely, unconditionally, without strings or examination of motives…just bless for no apparent reason. Oh, I justified my actions by convincing myself that the old man knew what he was doing andthat he was simply hoodooing the restaurant. But the truth is, it didn't matter what his intentions were and I had no business judging or questioning that (see Pillar 8 in 12 Pillars & a Prayer). God's Spirit was knocking on my heart's doorstep and what was I going to do?
I had to repent. I've prayed for the past few years that the truth of Pillar 10, specifically, "that a man give what he has determined in his heart to give" would be etched into my character. I have prayed that the word "giver" and "Russell Thomas" be synonymous. That when my family and friends think of me they say, "oh, he's a giver". As I sat in the quietness of my study in the early morning hours repenting of my callousness, God's Spirit began to share two major truths.
First, the scene in the Chinese restaurant was a perfect example of “and while we were yet sinners, Christ died” (Romans 5:6-8). He didn't look at us and try to figure our motives and intents. Had He done so, He would never have demonstrated His love on the cross: for surely He would have concluded that we were not worthy of such kindness. Jesus didn’t wait to die until we were in good position to receive it. No, quite the contrary. He seized the moment and simply paid the bill for us! He gave regardless, in fact knowing that our motives and behavior where not where they needed to be. He was not concerned that we may be hoodooing the restaurant.
The second truth and the real message here, concerns issues of the heart. We think, “don’t commit murder”: God thinks "when you hate it is one and the same". We think, “don’t commit adultery”: God thinks, "when you look with strong desire to have something that is forbidden that it is one and the same". We think, “10% in the plate on Sunday morning": God thinks, "determine in your heart not what you will give. When you ignore a brother in need perhaps its time for a heart examination (Look at Matthew 25:36)".
Paul understood the principle. In Pillar 10, II Corinthians 9, Paul doesn’t say to give 10%. Rather, he reminds us of an importantfinancial and life principle: give in abundance and it will come back in abundance. Be stingy and stingy will come back to you. But the real measuring stick is this: “…as each man determines in his heart”. Bingo! Giving is not a number. Its not a percentage. It is an issue of the heart.
Do you want to be rich? Give richly. Do you desire abundance in your life? Give abundantly. It begins with a heart examination. What have you determined in your heart? Will you be an abundant giver or play by the numbers? Just like me, opportunity to test your heart will present itself. You can bet your sweet calculator that the next time I'll remember to let my heart guide. How about you?
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