Dear Friends,
This month we get to discuss a fun topic: money! Isn’t that one of the topics you’re never supposed to bring up with family? Well, the fact is that Jesus talked about money a lot. So we’re not going to shy away from it!
My husband and I had been supported missionaries with an international missions organization for more than 25 years when I left in 2017 to become a full time writer. We lived on the generosity of others. If people didn’t give, we didn’t get paid.
But you know what? We never went hungry. We were always able to pay our mortgage. We always had clothes on our backs. And in addition, we had lots of extras: paid off cars, a nice house, vacations–albeit not lavish ones. Plus a whole lot more.
One time, when our support was low and we were getting very small paychecks, we looked at each other and said, “Instead of cutting back, we need to give more.” Say what? Totally counter-intuitive, right? But we knew that God would honor our generosity. We didn’t give just because we wanted God’s blessings. We gave because God is a generous giver. And we are made in his image.
I think of Jesus and the lesson of the widow’s mite. What she thought was so little could be mightily used by God. We can’t even see the ripple effect of our giving.
Now that I have a full time salaried job, we are able to give in ways we haven’t before. But our hearts haven’t changed, only our income. My husband’s paycheck still depends on faithful supporters, many of whom have become dear friends after so many years. Like Jacob, we have been blessed to be a blessing.
As you read these articles this month, listen for God’s heart. Maybe you’re already used to being generous in all ways. But if giving financially is a hard concept for you, let the words of our writers resonate as you ask God what he would have you do.
Many blessings on you as you read,
Stephanie Reeves
Editor in Chief