NOVEMBER 8, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

“Do you have your tithe to put in the offering?” Mom asked Joanne and Luke. Joanne nodded, but Luke shook his head. “I don’t have anything. I spent all my allowance this week,” he confessed. “Will you give me some money for the offering, Mom?”

Mom frowned, but she reached into her wallet and took out some money. “Just this once,” she agreed as she handed it to Luke. That afternoon, Luke had a suggestion for his mother. “My birthday is next week, you know,” he said. “If you can’t think of anything to get me, I have some ideas.”

Mom looked thoughtful a moment. “Well, actually, when Grandpa and Grandma were here last week, they left a birthday present for you. Maybe I’ll just give you that.” She smiled brightly at Luke.

“Mom!” exclaimed Luke. “I’m serious. I’m talking about what you might get for me, not what they’re giving me. I have some ideas.” “What’s wrong with my idea?” asked Mom, pretending to be surprised. “I’m sure the package they left holds something very nice.”

Luke frowned. “You’re just kidding, right?” he asked. “I mean… it won’t really be from you if you give me something they bought me.”

“You’re absolutely right, Luke,” agreed Mom. “I’m not truly giving if I give you something that doesn’t belong to me - something to which I didn’t give any thought or effort or money. You wouldn’t be happy about that, would you?” Luke shook his head. “But at church this morning, you were satisfied to give God a gift that wasn’t really from you,” Mom pointed out gently.

“Well… you used to always give us money for church,” protested Luke.

“When you were too young to have your own money, I gave you some so you’d get into the habit of giving to God,” replied Mom. “Now that you have an allowance, you should willingly give some of your own money to the Lord. Then you’ll be giving a real offering, right?” Thoughtfully, Luke nodded.

Thought: Do you give offerings to the Lord?

Prayer: Father in heaven, please remind me that everything I have is from You. Teach me to give my tithe willingly and cheerfully for the work of the Gospel and furtherance of Thy Kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.