Author: Bob von Trebra
Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
I have appreciated the stewardship messages that have been the weekly devotionals these past four weeks. At the risk of making too much of a good thing, allow me to add some thoughts of my own.
When I was serving as a church pastor, some folks would ask me what they could do to grow or deepen their faith. I’m not sure if I understood exactly what they meant by this. Maybe they weren’t quite sure, either. They may have wanted a stronger assurance that God is real, that God cares about them and others, and that God can do amazing things in their lives. Perhaps we can all use some faith-growth of this kind. What would it look like for you to have stronger faith?
Sometimes growth of our faith happens in unplanned ways. We may experience a life crisis of one kind or another, and discover unexpected, divine guidance or resources to get us through. Certainly, that can deepen our faith, but most of us would rather not have to suffer unexpected crises that upend our lives.
The suggestion that I would give to those who want to grow in faith is to do something intentionally that would require them to put a little more trust in God than they would otherwise. Stewardship season provides a perfect opportunity to give this a try. Commit to pledging to the church a little more than you think you want to spend – whether of money, or time, or commitment – maybe a little more than you think you can afford. Give it a try, and see if unexpected divine blessings don’t blossom in your life. Don’t do it because the church needs it to meet a budget, but because, maybe, you need it.
I have come to imagine God’s blessings to be like a well. If you take a bucket of water from a well, more water will flow in to return to its normal level. If we dip into God’s abundance to use it for holy purposes, more blessings will flow in as replenishment. We just have to be willing to trust God – a little bit. I have found this to be true at many times in my life.
If you want to grow in faith, try giving enough that you need God to help, and let me know if you receive overflowing blessings as a result.
