Although I Have Little, I Will Give Generously (29)

In the past few years, you could have asked me anything about current events and I would have been able to give you a pretty good recap on it.  I love stories, the good and the bad.  I like to be in the know, help people understand what’s going on in the world, and hopefully encourage them to be better informed.  However, as of recent, I have become disconnected.  I’m actually surprised a little by my lack of appeal to it, maybe because there is very little good news anymore.  The headlines are covered with corporate scandals and crimes of certain wealthy individuals.  There is much sadness and despair.  Mostly, it amazes me how such wealthy people can be so wicked (not suggesting wealthy people are wicked).  Scratch that. Wickedness is at the heart and greed is not just akin to those who have much.  I have honestly thought if I was that wealthy, can you imagine how much good I could do?  Who actually knows if I'd keep that promise?


It is easy, especially in these times, to be jealous of what others have.  Who is like me that compares my own possessions to others?  Times are definitely not the best around us and we certainly don’t need to be reminded of the stresses we are feeling right now.  Reading Psalm 37, how encouraging it is to actually have little than to be wealthy.  I am thankful how God has allowed me to focus on what really matters, to be appreciative of what I have and how I still can give more.  


Dave Ramsey is someone I love to listen to even when money is tight.  It's funny.  You'd think that if you lacked something, you'd try to stay away from someone who would exhort you about it.  I guess it's the whole idea of "walking with the wise" that brings me back.  God has gifted Dave in a way that helps remind me that I have been made to be productive, creative, and, despite what little I have, I am God’s masterpiece to work whatever I'd like to my benefit and hopefully to His.  I especially love hearing all the stories of those who had little or nothing and are now wealthy because they found something they liked to do, helped lots of people doing it, and simply saved more than they spent.  It’s just that simple.


Do you remember the Little Engine That Could?  This story is so old and yet is so fresh on my mind.  Even though that little engine was mocked and joked at for its size, it earned the right to be remembered because it gave more than it ever had to offer in the first place.  Like the widow with the two coins (Mark 12:41-44), he gave all he could and indeed was the greatest among them all.


I hope the only coveting I do is to be jealous of time with God.  I pray that my desire to give outweighs my desire to gain wealth. I trust that if I covet Him more than others’ possessions, I’m walking in the right direction.  The best part is despite what little you have, you can make it.  The story is also that much better when you do.

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have 
   than the wealth of many wicked; 
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken, 
   but the LORD upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, 
   and their inheritance will endure forever. 
¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither; 
   in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish: 
   The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, 
   they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay, 
   but the righteous give generously; 
²² those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, 
   but those he curses will be cut off.

²³ If the LORD delights in a man’s way, 
   he makes his steps firm; 
²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall, 
   for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

²⁵ I was young and now I am old, 
   yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken 
   or their children begging bread. 
²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely; 
   their children will be blessed.

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good; 
   then you will dwell in the land forever. 
²⁸ For the LORD loves the just 
   and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever, 
   but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; 
29 the righteous will inherit the land 
   and dwell in it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, 
   and his tongue speaks what is just. 
³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; 
   his feet do not slip.

Psalm 37:16-31

29 days!