Ten Pennies

God promises to bless and take care of us if we will trust Him with everything, including our finances.

Ten Pennies

"Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine."

(Proverbs 3:9-10)

Our Executive Pastor at our home church, Jeff Fair, tells the following story about how he learned stewardship as a young child:

"I remember when my mom took two sleeves of pennies, broke them open, and told me there were 100 pennies. She asked me to count out ten of them. As a six-year-old, I counted out ten pennies by putting my finger on each of them and sliding them into a separate group. She then told me that this group of ten pennies was going to be given to the Lord, and I gave them up by placing them in the offering plate at our little church.

"I didn't fully understand the significance then, but it was one of many blessings my parents instilled into my life from an early age. I have never been in want, and He has always provided for us. Stewardship and generosity are areas which the Lord has grown in me since that penny exchange. I now understand that all of my money belongs to the Lord, and He just asks us to sacrifice a portion to Him and allows us to steward the remainder. And He can do more with a smaller portion after sacrifice than we can do with 100% ownership. I recently read, 'We are owners of nothing but stewards of everything.' If this is a true statement, how do you answer this question, 'What does my spending prove to be my main sacrifice?' Would the Lord say of you as the Scripture says of Abel in Genesis 4:4, 'And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,' or would He know your sacrifice looks more like ownership?"

Jeff said that God has always provided for his family. I am not surprised in the least! God promises to bless and take care of us if we will trust Him with everything, including our finances. To hold out on God and be disobedient to His clear commands in Scripture does not invite the favor and blessings of God. But when we give our tithes and offerings and trust that God will help us live on the remainder, we experience what God can do. And God can do a lot! Notice in our text for today, when we honor the LORD through giving, He pours out blessings upon us in abundance.

Ashley and I can give many testimonies to the faithfulness of God in keeping his promises to bless His children. We have always tithed as a married couple, and praise the Lord, as we have grown in Christ, we have become more generous in giving above our tithes. God has blessed us in not only what He has given to us but also in what He has protected us from. It truly is amazing to see the blessings of God poured out on those who choose to obey God with their finances.

How generous are you? You do not have to be wealthy or have a lot to be generous. You simply must determine that this is the lifestyle you will live. Is it hard? Yes, it is at first, because it cuts against the grain of our selfishness. But give it a try: obey God, give, and be generous. You will be so glad you did.

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Podcast of the Week

Awakenings, Pt. 2

Pastor Danny continues his new mini-series about spiritual awakenings throughout history. This episode picks up where we left off with the Second Great Awakening in the United States.

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