Are you guilty of stunting kingdom progress?

People who don’t give much, or at all, are often the loudest to pontificate about if God gave a vision for ministry, He’ll provide the resources.

That’s their attempt to excuse their lack of giving and put it all on God.

Tell me, when was the last time you saw money raining from heaven?

Ministry requires financial resources, and God provides those funds through people!

If Christians were only faithful with the resources God has blessed them with, for the purpose He has blessed them with it, so much more ministry could be accomplished!

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God,” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11.

A key reason why ministry progress is too often stunted in the kingdom of God is due to so many Christians giving with the same attitude of Ted Turner. One writer noted the following …

Remember the media frenzy back in 1997 that ensued after TV mogul and billionaire Ted Turner decided to make a charitable contribution to UN programs in the amount of $1 billion? People simply couldn’t fathom a gift of that magnitude.

Turner made the announcement about his donation during a speech at a United Nations Association-USA dinner honoring him for his past philanthropic activities. He commented that he made the decision only two days prior, based on his increased net worth.

“When I got my statement in January,” he said, “I was worth $2.2 billion. Then I got another statement in August that said I was worth $3.2 billion. So I figure its only nine months’ earnings, who cares?”

Later, in an interview with CNN’s Larry King, Turner said, “I’m no poorer than I was nine months ago, and the world is much better off.”

What seemed like such an unfathomable gift to the average working Joe was deemed as no sacrifice at all by another.

The writer added his conclusion about Turner’s attitude:

The world may be “better off” because of this gift, but the same can’t be said for Mr. Turner. That’s because even a generous act means nothing if it cost the donor nothing. Mr. Turner’s own words, “its only nine months’ earnings, who cares” and “I’m no poorer” say it all.

It was the sacrifice of the widow in giving her last two coins, not the amount she gave, that spoke of her great faith. Likewise, it is the lack of sacrifice on the part of Mr. Turner, not the amount he gave, that speaks of his.

And likewise, our willingness to sacrifice, and to do so joyfully for the glory of God, speaks to OUR faith. Whose attitude for giving does YOUR giving most resemble: the poor widow’s, or Turner’s?

Before closing, let me challenge you to take a close look at your heart, thinking, and biblical view of giving by recommending to you a fantastic but very small book that can help you really explore the issue of giving to God and His kingdom work. The book is a very small hardback with the funny name of “Plastic Donuts” (you can read my original review of the book by clicking here), but it will be well worth your getting the book and absorbing its message.

A final note, it is true that if God gives a vision for ministry that He wants accomplished, He has unlimited power to stir hearts to give what is needed. My main point here is that God so very often puts in front us opportunities to serve Him by blessing others and supporting kingdom work that we give no thought or attention to because we want to stay in a “Ted Turner comfort zone” rather than having the heart to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. God will provide other resources through other people, but YOU will miss out!

Don’t miss out!

Scotty