Is It Enough?

I was driving home from work and noticed a homeless woman crossing the street. Our eyes met and I began to pray for her. It was unusual to see a homeless person in the affluent area of Fashion Island,  Newport Beach, CA. This homeless woman stood out, in her oversized tattered dress, and shopping cart full of all her belongings. She demanded my attention, standing against the lush green lawns and beautiful palm tree lined streets. As I drove further I felt the prompting to go back and give her all the money I had in my wallet, which wasn't much. I quickly turned around and pulled up beside her. As I rolled down my window, she grabbed a huge tattered Bible, holding it close to her chest and backed away from my rolled down passenger side window. I leaned over to tell her I wanted to help her, holding up the money in my hand. She said, "I don't approach cars." I said, "I can get out and give it to you." She quickly replied, "No, I can tell it's not the right amount. I pray each day and ask God to provide for my exact needs for the day. I know the amount, and I can tell that's not enough." I continued to try and persuade her to take it, telling her if it's not the right amount then she can use it to bless someone else. She refused telling me, "If I accept an amount less than I'm supposed to I am being unfaithful to God." With that I told her I would be praying for her and drove away feeling a little disheartened as to why the Lord would have me go offer everything I have in my purse, only to be rejected.

While driving I continued to pray and ask what lesson the Lord wanted to teach me. I had felt the prompting very strong to go back and give her all I had; even to the point that as I began to count the money, I stopped because I knew it didn't matter how much I was giving her, I was just supposed to offer it all to her.

When I got home...Tithing came to my mind. I remembered how I've been falling short in being faithful to give at least a 10th of my earnings. I give a little here and a little there. But God is asking me to give Him at least a 10th. He is asking me to give Him my best. What I've been offering "WASN"T THE RIGHT AMOUNT!" What I've been giving to the Lord wasn't enough? Everything I have is His..my family, my job, my car, my home, my food, my clothes and all the extra little "must have" things I store up. He has given me so much and in return asks me to give a 10th of my earnings to be used for His purpose. He's blessed me and only asks for a small portion to be given in faithfulness. I have fallen short. I have short changed the Lord who is ALWAYS there when I call. He is so faithful and yet I have not been. 

Today, ask yourself if you too have fallen short in this area? The Lord is faithful to provide ALL your needs. Are you as faithful in giving to the Lord?

 ^"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord." Leviticus 27:30 

" Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." Deuteronomy 26:13

"Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  They answered, “Seven.”  He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:17-21

Give God your best and He'll supply the rest!!