March 16th

Extra, Extra

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack-that there may be equality. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5

Everyone is out for your money. You work hard for it, but everywhere you turn, someone is asking for it.

Why, then, would you bother reading a devotional that is about money? You'd read it because the truth is that God has called all of us to some very God-sized visions, and if we're going to see them come to pass, it will take wise use of our money. It is with this heart that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to talk about our minds.

Paul tells us that we need a willing mind-a mind willing to learn new things, to give control of our finances over to God, and to give generously according to what we have. Now, Paul is not telling us that we should give ourselves into debt and lack. What he is telling us is that when we help supply what is needed when others lack, God will also supply to us what we lack.

You know what I think of there? I think of Africa. Some of us are like, Well, if you're on the radio in Africa, why aren't the Africans paying for it?

With what? I mean, they desperately cling to every word, not having Bibles, wanting a page out of your Bible, knowing you have multiple Bibles probably in your house on shelves gathering dust. You have extra, okay? Don't be looking at me like, Extra! Extra! I don't think this applies to me. I have none.

Look, if you parked your car inside last night, then you have extra. If you have clothes hanging in a closet, then you have extra. If you have food in your cupboards, then you have more extra than half the world has. Do you have money in the bank? Most of the world lives on two dollars or less a day.

That's called extra. And maybe this extra is more like an Extra! Extra! This is news to me! That's okay for it to be news to you, but we need to know what to do about it. For us where I pastor, our extra is helping to supply Africa's lack.

But you know what? We have a need that they are helping to meet by sending missionaries to reach our nation.

Give of your extra, because if you do, God will supply for your lack.

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You for giving me extra! Now please also help me to really see it as extra so that I can see how to give of my extra to supply others' needs.

Amen