Abundant Living

Recently, I read a book which is about receiving abundant blessings from God. Although the book's main focus is on the blessings given as a result of financial giving, it touches on other areas of giving as well. The idea is that when we tithe we receive blessings. Furthermore, when we give over and beyond a tithe we receive abundant blessings. Reading the author's point of view led me down a thought process I would like to share with you.

I truly believe God wants us to be givers - not just of our money but of ourselves and of our time. It has been said that our money really belongs to God. I would argue that the same holds true of our time? Everything we have on this earth is a gift from our Creator - including time. Which do you suppose is more valuable to Him?

I would venture to guess our time is what God craves more. After all, where and how we spend our time is a greater reflection of what's in our hearts. Money can help with a human need (shelter, hunger, clothing) but time can heal a heart need. When you spend time with someone you make them feel valued. They feel good inside. Your time tells them they are important enough to take you away from something you might rather be doing. Think about what it says to your child when you turn off the TV and play with them. What does you sick neighbor think when you mow their lawn for them or run their errands for them? Or how does a lonely person feel when you make a road trip to spend time with them? On the other side, what does it say when you isolate yourselves from others (family, friends, neighbors, strangers)? Does God want us to touch the lives of others or ourselves?

I don't want to leave the impression that because time may be more valuable to God that we don't need to be concerned about financial giving. Tithing is very important on many levels. For one, I believe there is a work done in our spirit when we give financially. It's a work of trust. We continually need to be made aware that God is our provider and not money. In addition, it may be true that God doesn't need our money but He does use it. God uses money to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, provide medicines for the sick and the list goes on and on. Both ways of giving are important. It's just that one may speak to the heart more than the other.

I think it's rare for someone to be really good at giving in both of these areas. For some it is much easier to write a check than to give a loved one, a neighbor or stranger their time. For some it is much easier to give time than money. Either way - doing what isn't easy for us probably means stepping out of a comfort zone that may be holding us captive. I have a feeling that truly giving may be truly freeing.

For me, I would like to be a better giver. I would like the ability to give both time and money without ever cringing. I would like to say that nothing has that much of a hold on me - that losing it would be nothing compared to the greater joy of giving.

But what about that abundant living? Let's say you faithfully tithe and your life is blessed as a result. That would be good, right? But what if there is a correlation between the giving of our finances and the giving of our time? What if they are tied together? What if you give financially and yet never give of your time (or vice versa)? On the other hand, what if you gave faithfully in both areas? Could that mean the difference between living a blessed life versus living an abundant life?