"Dear minister, I'm sorry I can't leave more money in the plate Sunday, but my father didn't give me a raise in my allowance. Could you give a sermon about a raise in my allowance? It would help the church get more money."
As funny as this is, many of us approach giving in this way, whether it's to the church or to any other organization that helps those in need. We'd give more if only we had a little more to give. We just need that raise and everything will be so much easier. There's only so much to go around and there's just not enough right now.
Unfortunately, this paints a false picture of God. Our world tells us over and over that resources are scarce. There's only so much to go around. And so we can only give so much because otherwise there won't be enough left for us. We spend so much time and energy acquiring and worrying about what we don't have and often are so measured and cautious with what give because we believe there isn't going to be enough. This is the myth of scarcity. That God hasn't given his children enough to go around. This is not the God we worship.
The truth is, we believe that the God we worship has given to us abundantly! Not only is there enough to go around, there's more than enough. And therefore, we give in response to the abundance God continually provides us with.
I have heard people say that the more they have given the more God has given them. From my experience, I don't think God gives more to the generous and less to misers. I have found that the more I give the more I recognize how much God has already blessed me with. It's not that God has given me more in a "quid pro quo" arrangement. In giving I am transformed. I can see the gifts I have more clearly. I am able to give thanks more fully. I am able to give more joyously. Thank God for the many abundances he has given to us.
