Seek to Excel
“But just as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7).A layman once made a covenant with his pastor to tithe ten percent of their income every year.
They were both young and neither of them had much money.
But things changed.
The layman tithed one thousand dollars the year he earned ten thousand,
– ten thousand dollars the year he earned one-hundred thousand,
– and one- hundred thousand dollars the year he earned one million.
But the year he earned six million dollars-
– he just could not bring himself to write out that check for six-hundred thousand dollars to the Church.
He telephoned the minister, long since having moved to another church, and asked to see him.
Walking into the pastor’s office the man begged to be let out of the covenant, saying-
“This tithing business has to stop. It was fine when my tithe was one thousand dollars, but I just cannot afford six-hundred thousand dollars. You’ve got to do something, Reverend!”
The pastor knelt on the floor and prayed silently for a long time.
Eventually the man said, “What are you doing? Are you praying that God will let me out of the covenant to tithe?”
“No,” said the minister. “I am praying for God to reduce your income back to the level where one thousand dollars will be your tithe!”
No one excels more in giving than the Lord.
Today in prayer, praise Jesus for all that He has blessed you with and seek to excel in giving to the Lord.
What I kept, I lost;
What I spent, I had;
What I gave, I have!
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed” (Psalm 37:25-26).