Leftovers
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 7:00AM MAD21 By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)
Launching the Shop-Not Project felt good. When I embarked on my year-long hiatus from shopping last September, I felt noble…until a few months into it, that is, when I realized the flaw in my plan:
I was giving God the leftovers.
The Shop-Not Project works like this: My husband and I agree on a monthly personal cash allotment for each of us. I don’t spend any of that cash on clothes, jewelry, shoes, makeup or accessories – I don’t shop for any personal items for twelve months. At the end of each month, I take what’s left from my personal cash and tuck it into the envelope marked “Shop-Not Money.” At the end of the year, I donate what’s been saved to Compassion.
Sounds like the perfect plan, right? Like I said, noble and good. But read that second to last sentence again: At the end of each month, I take what’s left from my personal cash…
I take what’s leftover and give it to God.
What I give to God depends on my spending habits for the month – how many times I eat dinner out with friends, how many “necessary” items I purchase for home décor, how many low-fat grande mochas I sip. Some months I give most of my personal allotment to God; some months only $10 or $20. One month I gave nothing at all.
I didn’t realize the flaw in my plan until I read these verses from Exodus:
“All the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses: ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.’” (Exodus 36:3-5)
The people brought more than enough to do the work God commanded.
“Why can’t we do this today?” I think to myself when I read those verses. “Why can’t we provide even enough, let alone more than enough?”
Why are there one billion people in the world living on less than $1 a day? *
Why do more than 26,500 children die every day due to preventable causes related to poverty?
Why do one billion people in the world live without access to clean, safe water?
There’s no getting around it: God commands us time and time again to care for the poor. Yet we don’t.
It’s easy for me to blame everyone else for global poverty. It’s easy to assume that I am doing my part, while “other people” slack off. It’s easy to assume that the problem is with everyone else, rather than with me.
But that would be wrong.
I realize now that I’ve had it all backwards. God shouldn’t get the leftovers.
God commands that more work be done. And that work begins with me.
“It charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.” (Jewish proverb)
What about you? Have you ever embarked on a charitable mission, only to find that you were going about it all backwards?
*Statistics from The Hole In Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns.
Michelle is a Christian wife and mother of two originally from Massachusetts now living in Nebraska. She is a part-time writer, editor and fundraiser for Nebraska PBS/NPR. Michelle loves to write about how her family illuminates God's presence in her everyday life, and on finding (and keeping) faith in the everyday. Michelle enjoys reading, running and writing. Be sure to go visit her blog, Graceful, Faith in the Everyday.
Faith, Family, Family Life, Money, Tithe in Family Life
Reader Comments (7)
Michelle, you are so smart. I am impressed by your sensitivity and your awareness of others around the world.
That was tremendous...great insight!
I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love. ~Mother Teresa
It's so true. It's why Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver and that we should give whatever we've decided in our heart to give. That decision is so key! My tithe comes out first, not after I see what I have left and I've seen God do some tremendous miracles. It's not just about tithing, of course, but it's one area. Great post, Michelle. Thanks.
I'm afraid that a lot of my "leftovers" go to God.
Not just money -- but time.
As always, convicting post.
Hugs.
26,500. Second time today that I've read that statistic. Hmmm...
Great post.....I wonder if the church spent less on big fancy buildings and sound systems, and strobe lights.....Hmmmm God is telling me, what about you?? I spend way too much on going out to eat and I am sure there are other places I could do much better!
What I love most about you Michelle, is you are honest.
Gut-wrenching honest.
Seriously. There's been months when I only gave $20 too.
Convicting message.