Prayer Request / Godly Advice Request
About this time last year, I attended a service at Mill Woods Church in Edmonton, and the focus of the service was giving and helping out those who are in need. This coincides with the end of my first real exploration job.
And I got a terribly risky idea:
What would happen if, for the course of a year, or for 6 months, or even for one 6 week rotation in camp (where the company pays my room and board and gives me a company truck, a credit card for diesel, and will replace any work-related item in my wardrobe. All this in addition to paying my salary!), I didn't take home any of the money that I earned?
I wouldn't go hungry. I wouldn't be homeless. I'd still have my friends, my job, a roof over my head. All my basic needs will be met. And some missionary somewhere would have a mine site geologist's salary.
So what's the problem then?
Well, right now there's a mining boom in Western Australia, and in Northern Canada. 5 years from now, the company I work for will probably be bankrupt, the price of nickel, lead, copper, and just about everything else will plummet, and I'll be trying to feed a family.
So I'll do it. I'll give a portion of my wages to God, I just need to make another couple of bucks first. We'll say that the first year's salary is mine, then I'll be well provided for and I can start making God His money. Besides, I'm in Australia. I'm here to have fun. I'm here to make my fortune in the mines then go on vacation.
The first year's salary is mine?
Mine, eh? That's pretty selfish, all things considered. Should the first day's salary even be mine? How many times have we read about people who took the firstborn of their flock, or the best of their harvest, and kept it for themselves, giving God an offering but not a pleasing one? If I did everything I wanted to do with my money, then took what was left over and gave it to God, is that not similar to Cain's offering?
So maybe that idea that I had last year is a little over the top. Maybe I'm not called to do that. Of course I'll think twice about giving a year's wages away right off the top. It's a lunatic kind of idea. But what it did show me, over the course of a year debating the sense or complete lack of sense of the idea, is that I am selfish. I don't have my priorities straight.
I don't actually give any money to God's work. 9X out of 10 it doesn't even cross my mind.
(I am admitting this so that anyone reading can pray that I get an attitude adjustment, if they feel a need to)
This needs to change before its too late. 10% left in my will as a donation to the Church of England is not tithing. It's not how much, its when. It's the attitude behind it. It's a priority. It's a complete change of perspective and the realization that nothing that I have is even mine to begin with so why am I doing what I want and leaving God with the leftovers.
About this time last year, I attended a service at Mill Woods Church in Edmonton, and the focus of the service was giving and helping out those who are in need. This coincides with the end of my first real exploration job.
And I got a terribly risky idea:
What would happen if, for the course of a year, or for 6 months, or even for one 6 week rotation in camp (where the company pays my room and board and gives me a company truck, a credit card for diesel, and will replace any work-related item in my wardrobe. All this in addition to paying my salary!), I didn't take home any of the money that I earned?
I wouldn't go hungry. I wouldn't be homeless. I'd still have my friends, my job, a roof over my head. All my basic needs will be met. And some missionary somewhere would have a mine site geologist's salary.
So what's the problem then?
Well, right now there's a mining boom in Western Australia, and in Northern Canada. 5 years from now, the company I work for will probably be bankrupt, the price of nickel, lead, copper, and just about everything else will plummet, and I'll be trying to feed a family.
So I'll do it. I'll give a portion of my wages to God, I just need to make another couple of bucks first. We'll say that the first year's salary is mine, then I'll be well provided for and I can start making God His money. Besides, I'm in Australia. I'm here to have fun. I'm here to make my fortune in the mines then go on vacation.
The first year's salary is mine?
Mine, eh? That's pretty selfish, all things considered. Should the first day's salary even be mine? How many times have we read about people who took the firstborn of their flock, or the best of their harvest, and kept it for themselves, giving God an offering but not a pleasing one? If I did everything I wanted to do with my money, then took what was left over and gave it to God, is that not similar to Cain's offering?
So maybe that idea that I had last year is a little over the top. Maybe I'm not called to do that. Of course I'll think twice about giving a year's wages away right off the top. It's a lunatic kind of idea. But what it did show me, over the course of a year debating the sense or complete lack of sense of the idea, is that I am selfish. I don't have my priorities straight.
I don't actually give any money to God's work. 9X out of 10 it doesn't even cross my mind.
(I am admitting this so that anyone reading can pray that I get an attitude adjustment, if they feel a need to)
This needs to change before its too late. 10% left in my will as a donation to the Church of England is not tithing. It's not how much, its when. It's the attitude behind it. It's a priority. It's a complete change of perspective and the realization that nothing that I have is even mine to begin with so why am I doing what I want and leaving God with the leftovers.
Labels: Money, selfishness
posted by Polliegenesis at 5:49 AM
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