Money, money, money, money...money! (go ahead-sing the song) Why does moolah tend to control every aspect of life? Can’t do this, can’t go there, I have to buy these, how long is my hair?? Ok, ok-I just put in that last one cuz it rhymed (but, I do cut my own hair now haha). God has really been speaking to me about sharing and giving with a compassionate heart. He’s referring to sharing food, the laundry room, everything else in the house, giving time, resources, smiles, money...Here's a little story: Let's face it, it's frustrating to me when I reach for a piece of gum from my bag and then 5 people around me either see my hand grabbing the pack of minty goodness or it wafts up into their nostrils as I slowly and quietly peel away the wrapper. Dude, my mom sent me that Big Red from home; I bought that Extra with my own Australian coins! Alright, why does this kind of thing bother me? It really shouldn't be a big deal.
I came to a simple realization—that when something isn’t mine (like a new pack of gum left behind at my house with nobody to claim it..woohoo!) then I don’t mind giving all of it away, since it was never mine to begin with. God was like, “Briana, nothing on Earth is truly yours, so, like this gum, you shouldn’t have a problem with giving freely, cheerfully, and willingly to others who may need it more than you.” Whoa, wait a minute! I have a budget, things to buy, places to go, a stomach to fill…and you want me to just keep giving and thinking of others needs before my own? God, you're asking too much, right? WRONG. I’m blessed to bless others. Period. And guess what? Even if you’ve heard this before, you've read it a million times, been there-done that..blah, blah. I get it; I do, but check it out one more time:
“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.” [Proverbs 11:24-26]
Did you catch that? When you refresh someone else, God will refresh you--Because you're not focused on trying to refresh yourself, God takes care of it for you. What a relief! I can write from experience that He will keep this promise, but you'll never know how He's going to do it; which is exactly what makes life so curiously fun!
Now take a look at verse 27: "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it." Hello! So, this is my mission: to seek good, not evil; and not to be a hoarder!
