Reckless Abandon

Sunday morning, I was getting ready for church and thinking about a fundraiser I had to go to in the afternoon. I was excited about the fundraiser and excited to learn more about the cause but I was also a little nervous because money is tight. Not only am I moving to NC in three weeks but God has yet to reveal the job he is preparing for me and I only have enough money saved to very carefully last until September. Oh... and there's this little thing called The You Are Project and oh yeah... I kind of volunteered us to help remodel the living room of the home/shelter our friends just bought in Camden....

As the numbers behind my circumstances ran through my head, the 25-30 dollars I had budgeted for the event began to seem more and more precious and valuable and I found myself saying to God, "I love being able to give but am I digging myself into a hole? When do I say no? How can I say no when there are so many real causes and needs that are desperate for support? I know you will always provide for me but surely I can't keep saying yes to it all. That can't be what you mean... I need you to teach me how to know when it's okay to stop."

A few minutes later, when I was done getting ready I opened up my Bible to do a little reading before leaving the house. I'm currently in the middle of reading The Message version of 2 Corinthians and this is part of what I read:

"God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out."

I wish I could tell you that I immediately realized God was answering my question. But I didn't. Instead I noticed it said he gives "to the needy with reckless abandon" and thought, "Oh. What a funny coincidence," continued reading and headed off to church.

At the fundraiser, I not only won the 50/50 but I also won a basket of lottery tickets in a raffle. I left the event with three times more than I came with. As I drove home, all I could think about was how blessed I was and the words "He gives with reckless abandon" cycled through my mind until I could reread chapter 9.

"God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out."

And then I saw what I could not see before. As my mom pointed out, God, just like an earthly father, answered my question with words but when I was not able to understand his explanation he gave me a physical demonstration so that I could understand this message:

Why worry about when to say no when my God can "pour on the blessings in astonishing ways" so that I'm ready to do anything and everything, more than just what needs to be done? If I am going to be like my God and my God gives to the needy in reckless abandon then I need to give with reckless abandon, not just with my money but with my time and with my love.