DAILY
DEVOTIONAL
It's
Just Too Much Fun!
By
Gail Casteen
Staff Writer
CBN.com
– How would I know it could be so much fun!?! It seemed more like
an obligation a necessary action a must-do kind of thing. After all, the Bible
says you HAVE to give. Of course I don't HAVE to give, but if I want God's favor
and blessing, I have to give... or so I thought. When I was a little
kid trotting off to Sunday School with my parents, I remember my younger sister
and I were given a dime to put in the envelope every week. As we got older, it
became a quarter, then a dollar back then, that was a LOT of money. I knew we
had to do it because "God says so." I was always told, "It is better to
give than to receive." I think it would have helped if my folks could have pointed
out the fact that we WERE receiving After all, Dad was the church janitor. It
was his full time job (he had 3 or 4 side jobs.) But we benefited directly from
the gifts given each week. We had a car it was old but it got us from point A
to point B most of the time. When it didn't, it wasn't such a big deal. We could
just ride our bikes or walk after all it was a tiny town. We had a house
sure it was old, the floorboards were uneven and they creaked a lot. It was heated
with space heaters cold air came in from the cracks in the floor as well as through
the poor fitting windows and doors. But there was always plastic to put on the
screens in the winter and fans for the summer. Sure there were mice and bugs.
We just got rid of them as best we could when they showed up. Besides there were
some great climbing trees and lots of "wild animals" squirrels, 'possums, and
an occasional garden snake or two. It wasn't so bad. We had nice clothes.
No, they weren't store bought, but they were OK. Mom was a terrific seamstress
and could whip up more clothes in a week than most people could in a month. Every
year, my younger sister and I would earn our way to church camp. Mom always made
a whole new summer wardrobe for us to wear when we went. We had an automatic washing
machine, which was really cool in light of the fact that we had an old wringer
washer that worked just fine. It was just that the new automatic washer with the
spin cycle made my mom so happy. So that was groovy. She made bread and
noodles by hand. And the pies she could cook (and bake) up a storm. There was
always plenty of food in the fridge and the pantry. We were never hungry unless
we elected to be, and that was our problem. So how much does a person have
to receive before they recognize it as receiving and as a blessing? It took me
a LONG time. I kept giving maybe not always 10%. There have been times that an
adult I was in a situation where I couldn't even afford to purchase light bulbs.
There were times that we had no heat, no water and no electricity. Once we had
a house for a while, but we went into foreclosure and lost it. When friends brought
bags of groceries, I was ashamed instead of thankful. I knew it was a God thing
that they thought of us. What was wrong with us that we couldn't support ourselves?
Then the unthinkable happened. My marriage fell apart, and I had two young
children to support. With finances having been so tough anyway, there was virtually
nothing available for starting over again. But friends took us in, fed us and
housed us until I could get work. Even though my family lived halfway across the
country, they saw to it that I had money in my pocket for gasoline, insurance
and for helping our friends offset some of the cost of housing us. Still I was
miserable because I wasn't taking care of my children and myself. I felt I was
far too dependent on others. If only I'd learned to see the blessing of
God I would have seen Him furnishing my apartment when we found one sure it
was with other people's throw away stuff, but I didn't have to sleep on the floor
any longer, and there was a table for dining and homework. I would have seen Him
paying my bills when someone in the church would anonymously pay my electric bill
for a month. I would have realized that every month when the rent was paid on
time that I was receiving His blessing. When people gave us clothing and the church
gave us Thanksgiving food and Christmas gifts, He was blessing us. I gave
sometimes. I HAD to give. It was required. I was sporadic about it and sometimes
I was so fearful that I wouldn't be able to pay my rent that I would skip a month
of tithing intending to pay it back later Of course, that never happened. What
bothered me the most about giving was the fact that when I did give, I did it
out of obligation and certainly not with a cheerful heart. In my head I knew God
was taking care of us. From the time we went out on our own, our rent was paid
on time every month without fail. We had food, electricity, water and a car that
worked (well, most of the time.) Is that God or what? Then it happened.
I decided that I was going to give my tithe AND some offerings even if it meant
I couldn't pay my rent! (That was always my biggest concern). This time though,
something big was stirring in my heart about abandoning all my fears regarding
giving. I had a friend to whom I held myself accountable. Every time I got a paycheck
I called her if I wavered at all about fulfilling my promise to do this. I don't
have to call her any more. I can't wait to get paid! This has become almost like
a game between God and I. I'm having the time of my life. I am keeping
track of the score in a little book. So far, He's ahead, but I am going to keep
trying. However, how am I ever going to pass Him up on the gift of a cheerful
heart? I cannot begin to describe how good it is to give with a cheerful heart.
I remember the years of dread and the sense of obligation I felt when it came
to giving. How did I EVER live like that? There is something to this giving thing.
Even when I think I am "low on dough" and God prompts me to give, I get that money
out as fast as I possibly can! He always beats me to the punch. The gifts come
back to us in many forms and because they are from Him, we are continually being
enriched. My heart's desire for years has been to have a home of my own
for my children and I. I can honestly say that if I have to stay in the apartment
forever, I will do so gladly, as long as I can keep giving. It's just too much
fun! Gail Casteen (c) 2003
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