How I Learned To Give - Steve Martin
"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2
Corinthians 9:6, NASU
On rare occasions, I share a message in our
homegroup, as I normally lead worship and another gives a message. But this
time we switched roles, and I gave the message.
After seeking the Lord during the three weeks
preceding the homegroup, I settled peacefully on the topic of giving, and how
the Lord had taught me over decades the discipline, even beginning in my youth.
I recall sitting in the Roman Catholic church
pew before the weaved basket at the end of the long pole being handed down
our row – my dad had given me a dime or a quarter to put in it. Later I was
given a box of 52 white, small envelopes distributed by the church at the
beginning of the year, for the weekly giving moments during Mass.
Being raised a Catholic I wasn’t familiar with
“tithing”, but after working a few months in the Eagle grocery store stocking
shelves my senior year of high school, alongside the new Baptist friend, I
heard about it for the first time. I commenced the practice then and have
continued since.
During my one and only year of college at the
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, I lived with several
Christian brothers. No rent or other expenses were individually requested, but
a glass jar served as the collection container, and each would put in funds as
they “felt led”. Once when the jar became very low on provisions, the Lord had
me privately put in my first $400, unbeknownst by the others.
I was learning to hear the voice of the Lord in
giving, in sharing what He had blessed me with in provision for the blessing of
others.
My good wife Laurie and I lived in common purse
community for the first four months of marriage, in LaSalle/Peru, Illinois.
Known as Victory Community, the concept was based on Acts 2, where the early
church had “all things in common.” Each working member gave their entire
paycheck to the elders each payday, who in turn divided it equally among all,
for food, clothing, housing, and transportation expenses.
It even included special events. So, when we got
married (in October 1977) we were given $600 for our honeymoon (with the
wedding expenses covered by Laurie’s parents.)
Thus, we did also, until we became involved with
the Discipleship/Shepherding Movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and
moved to East Lansing, Michigan to further live as we believed. About half the
community, 35-40 members) also made the move.
Around 1983 the elders of Shiloh Fellowship, the
church we were members of, felt it appropriate to ask each family household and
single members to give a week’s paycheck so we could honor and bless the
national teacher, Derek Prince, living in Jerusalem, Israel, in need of a large
sum of funds to complete the building of his home. In faith, Laurie and I gave.
It certainly was another teaching experience in giving, especially with two
young boys and living paycheck to paycheck.
All during this time the Lord was putting into
my heart the Christian discipline of trusting Him to give beyond what I thought
I could, believing Him when it says in Scripture, “Now this I say, he who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not
grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able
to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything,
you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written,
"HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread
for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest
of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality,
which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this
service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also
overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, NASU
Learning to give is a process. You start out
giving as you can in faith, and then as you do, the Lord increases your faith
with more increase resulting in more opportunities to give larger than before.
One thing I also noted in my message was even
though I have given 10% and much more through the years, I don’t limit it to
one location or ministry. Our household gives much to those working in the land
of Israel, knowing personally the households of the faith doing the work there
to fulfill the prophetic words of the Lord as He brings the Jewish people back
to their homeland. Love For His People Ministry focuses on this mission in
ministry.
I encourage you to honor the Lord foremost in
your giving continually, and as you give thanks for the
provision He gives you to share, you do so in increasingly stronger faith and
evermore joy in your heart.
Steve Martin, Founder
Love For His People
Ministries 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134
loveforhispeople@gmail.com
loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
