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I recently held a half-million dollars in my hands. No, it wasn’t mine. I interface with dozens of ministries and non-profits that care for people in various ways around the world. One of the ministries was given one of the most generous gifts they have ever received to aid them in caring for those to whom they minister. I happened to be present when the gift arrived and I was allowed to hold it for a moment. I have never held an amount that large in my hands. It was a strange feeling. So much potential. So much responsibility.
However, the most amazing part of the encounter wasn’t holding such a vast sum of money. It was the story of how it came to be given. I won’t go into detail but the bottom line was the person giving the gift asked a very important question of the ministry he was about to bless. He asked ‘how much money can you handle?’ His concern wasn’t the amount of money he was going to send… he had plenty to give. His concern was to not overwhelm the ministry with more than they could responsibly steward. When I heard that part of the story my heart leaped within me and I heard the voice of God say ‘Nathan, I’m asking you this question all of the time.’ The truth is, God is asking all of us this question. But do you understand why?
Lessons from the Lottery
According to an article published in August of 2017, people who win the lottery are more likely to declare bankruptcy within 3-5 years than the average American (you can read the article here). Why is that? The issue is the maturity, wisdom and responsibility required to handle such ‘blessings’ didn’t accompany the gift. Therefore, the tools required to steward such a gift are not in place making the gift a curse. Many people who have been given large lump sums of money for which they haven’t worked to receive often curse the day they received the ‘blessing’. This principle is seen throughout the Bible and really has nothing to do with money.
The issue is this…. How you handle what you have now is how you will handle more. If you do not steward well the little you have now (be it money, influence, opportunity, responsibility) it is unreasonable to believe you will instantly mature and make drastic changes to your disciplines, beliefs and behaviors the moment you receive more. God knows this about us and loves us enough to not ‘place more on us than we can bear.’ The man giving the large gift to the ministry understood this. The sooner we understand it the sooner we can better steward what God has already entrusted to us. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘Is Being Content Just Being Lazy?’)
You Are Your Own Lid
God is not limited. His desire is to bless us and position us in such a way as to be the conduit of His blessing to everyone we encounter. Some people make that only about money. Though it certainly can be included in the conversation, the issue is so much greater. It is God’s heart, as revealed throughout all of Scripture, to give, bless and position us to be a blessing. There is only ONE limiting factor. Us. We limit God’s blessing in our lives by not disciplining ourselves to steward well the opportunities and resources we CURRENTLY have. God doesn’t want to ruin our lives by ‘blessing’ us to the point of pain. If we aren’t prepared to live generously, free from the fear of man and the opinion of others and with a desire to bless those God puts in our path then God is content to wait on promoting us.
How do we know if we’re ready for promotion? Look at your current life. Are you living beyond your means, unable to say no? Are you giving generously, promoting others and using your opportunities to be a blessing? If the answer to each of those questions is an excuse as to why you cannot do anything other than what you’re doing, you’re not ready. According to the parable of the talents, live that way long enough and God will start to reduce what you already have been given and will invest it on others who will carry His heart. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘Fall In Love With What You Have’)
Money, influence and opportunity are neither good nor bad. They simply take on the character of the one in possession of them. And this is the point. Who you are and who you are becoming is the greatest issue. Start right where you are and choose to order your life according to God’s Word. Change your lifestyle to fit your income and opportunities. Find ways to be generous and make it who you are regardless of amount or opportunity. Use your position at work, at school and in your home to be a blessing, creating opportunities for others. As you do you will be increasing your capacity to receive more so that you can give and steward more. How much blessing can you handle? You are determining the answer to that question in each and every scenario you are in right now. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘In Your Heart And Out Of Reach’)
From the Bible
Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. – Matthew 13:12 NIV
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ – Matthew 25:21 NIV
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: – I Peter 4:8-10 ESV