fear of giving

Today in the One Year Bible, Paul talks to us about giving our money to help those who are doing God's will. He teaches this in 2 Corinthians 9:1-15. He says that we shouldn't give reluctantly, because God loves a cheerful giver. And then he gives us the phrase that we need in order to overcome our fear. He says, "God will generously provide all you need."

That's what we're afraid of, right? We would probably give MUCH more generously of what God has given us. Most of us care about other people, and would love to make their lives better. But we have this fear, deep down in our hearts, that if we're too generous, there might not be enough left for us. That we might end up in some kind of debilitating poverty, or in an embarrassing financial state, if we give as much as we'd like.

But God promises us in the very same passage where we're told that He loves a cheerful giver, that He will take care of us. We don't have to be afraid. We can give generously. Like CS Lewis said, you know you've given as much as you should when you "feel the pinch."

God, help us to be cheerful givers.