By Tom Shanklin
A sports article stated that an NBA star was "disappointed"
with his 85 million dollar contract. I wonder, how can you be
disappointed with 85 million dollars? I suppose it's because someone
else received 90 million. Come on! Get real!
Now I don't know. Maybe my attitude is not just right, but I
can't help but thinking about what we could do with just one of
those million dollars. How many souls could we reach? How many
churches could we build? How many missionaries could we help?
It just doesn't seem right. But then again, noone ever said life
was fair.
Now, let's bring this home. Most of us don't have 85 million
basketball contracts. We don't have multi-million dollar vacation
homes. What can we do?
Here's some thoughts:
1. Use what you've got. God's word says that He gives seed to
the sower. There are some seeds in your life. I once heard a testimony
about someone who started out giving shirt buttons in the offering
plate. Now he is giving multiple thousands to missions and evangelism.
Don't be consumed with what you don't have. Use what you do have
and ask God to multiply it that you may have more to give.
2. Seek God carefully as to where you should give. Sadly, not
all the money that is given to "Christian" causes ends
up in the right places. Some ends up in the hands of unscrupulous
preachers. Some goes to causes which do not truly further the
Gospel. It 's great to help people in need, but the most important
need is that people woulld receive eternal llife. Support ministries
that are using the resources they have to proclaim the Gospel,
in our nation and around the world. Let's adjust our giving in
such a way as to bring the greatest impact for the Kingdom of
God. Let's get the most bang for our buck.
3. Pray for a transfer of wealth. The Bible says, "A good
man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
Proverbs 13:22, KJV. Let's pray for a transfer of wealth from
the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light. Let's pray
that the mega-bucks that are being wasted by sports heros, movie
stars and corporate America would find its way into the hands
of God's people. And let's pray that God's people, as they prosper
would not get caught up in the cares of the world and the deceitfulness
of riches, but would use what God gives them to further the Kingdom
of God.
4. Attend a local church that is reaching the lost and hurting.
Many Christians give the greatest share of their contributions
to their local church. That's good, if that particular church
is supporting evangelism and missions and reaching out to the
world around them. But if the local church is all about just serving
and conserving the local congregation, you are wasting your time
and money there. Get involved in something that's making a diffenence
in the world. The value of a local church is determined not by
its seating capacity, but it's sending capacity. Don't give your
tithe into a dead work.
5. Give of yourself in prayer. Don't think that because your
financial resources are limited, you have nothing to give. Your
prayers avail much. Study the scriptures. Learn your authority.
Be a part of God's might army of prayer warriors who give themself
to the cause of world evangelism. God says, "Ask of me,
and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."
Psalms 2:8, KJV.
There are many fine missionaries and evangelists who need your
prayer support and encouragement. Give yourself to prayer and
you will see eternal results. Remember, your voice counts in the
Kingdom of God. As we all pull together, and hear and obey the
voice of the Lord, we will prevail against the Kingdom of darkness.
Maybe the world isn't fair, but no matter, Greater is he that
is in us than he that is in us than he that is in the world.
God bless you, fair warrior.