Lesson Four • Give
Mitchell Holmes
In America, there is a dream that anyone can work hard enough to earn their way to anything because of the equal opportunity available to everyone. Our country holds this belief in high regard, and it is one of the things that makes our nation so fascinating. There is always a new house to save for, a faster car to buy, a new degree to earn, or a new promotion to chase. Unfortunately, that same ideal has caused a feeling of restlessness. It is not bad to have goals; however, I think it is very easy for us to let these goals and aspirations be consuming and take priority over things with eternal value rather than fleeting worldly treasures.
In Philippians 4:11-13, it says, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” One of the hardest lessons that anyone can learn, and one that I battle daily, is the battle of contentedness. Learning how to be content and pleased with where one is at, whether that be a season of plenty or a season of need, is an important step in developing one’s faith. A dangerous trap of the enemy is the feeling of self-sufficiency that we often feel when in seasons of plenty. When it feels like we have things under control and when we feel as if we have no need of a Savior, it is easy for us to become complacent in our need to be filled with Scripture and in our need to be in constant relationship with Almighty God.
In Mark 12:43-44, Jesus notices many rich people offer large sums of money followed by a poor widow that offers all that she owned, “And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’” Jesus is saying that a generous heart, a heart of contentedness in Christ alone, is far more valuable than the offering done out of abundance just to fulfill an obligation.
As we discuss this series on giving, my challenge to you is to take an evaluation. When we look at our goals and when we evaluate our finances and the things that we want and desire, a decision has to be made. Are we willing to trust the Lord with our desires? Are we willing to give with a contented heart and trust God to handle the rest? In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” I want to reiterate that it is not bad to have goals and desires, but how often do we allow the discontent in our hearts, our goals, aspirations, and desires to cloud our minds and take priority over the Kingdom of God? I battle with this, and I do not have it figured out. I write this to ask you some of the questions that I try to ask myself.
Meditate on these passages of Scripture then ask yourself these questions: Where is my priority? When I give, is it out of a generous and content heart? Am I content with nothing more than Jesus? Oftentimes, many of us feel like we need something more from this world in order to be content, as if the love of Jesus is not sufficient in itself. If Jesus is all we have, He is more than enough.