Money

Some time ago I was blessed to visit Oxford - while there I paid a visit to one of the oldest library / museums in the world - the Bodlean Library - I also visited the Christ Church complex where Thomas Wycliffe translated the Bible for the first time from latin to English and at the Bodlean I actually saw some of his original manuscripts. An incredible experience for me.

But that got me thinking - How much we owe to other people who put in major efforts so that we may enjoy the Word and the Gospel.

If it were not for generous givers - some would never even hear the gospel.

Mar 12:41 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. 42 One poor widow came up and put in two small coins--a measly two cents. 43 Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. 44 All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford--she gave her all."

And

Mat 26:14 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They settled on thirty silver pieces. 16 He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

Two very contradicting situations involving money..... The widow gave her money as an offering - a sacrifice to the temple, for the purpose of God`s work. But the Sanhedrin, the so-called keepers of the doctrine gave the money for the work of evil.

What do we do with our money - with the supply we received from God in the first place.

Do we give so that the Gospel may be advanced and brought to a lost and dying world or do we waste it in the world.

There is no problem in spending money on good and wholesome entertainment - but what about sowing into the Kingdom - sowing so that others may reap. Yes we will reap as we sow - but what about putting that motive aside for a change. Thinking about the times others sowed and we reaped!

Let us sow into the kingdom, into the ministry and the church, so that in generations to come, others may enjoy the experience of salvation and the gospel.

Three Kicks in Every Dollar

William Allen White, a famous newspaper editor in Emporia, Kansas, once gave a 50 acre tract of land to the city for a park. At the dedication, he made the strange statement that there are "Three kicks in every dollar." He explained, "One kick is when you make it-and how I love to make a dollar! One is when you save it-and I have the Yankee lust for saving. The third kick is when you give it away-and the biggest kick of all is the last one."

It seems Mr. White discovered on his own what Jesus taught 20 centuries earlier: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Act_20:35). Do you believe that? Want a big kick? Make a lot of money! Want an even bigger kick? Give your money to a worthy cause.

There is a "kick" in seeing needy people helped. There is a "kick" in seeing your money carry the good news everywhere. There is a "kick" in seeing your church touch the spiritual needs of the unsaved.

You, too, can get three "kicks" out of every coin earned.