What’s In Your Wallet?

Reading Time: 5 Minutes

A clever credit card commercial ends with a memorable line, “What’s in your wallet?” The implication is that everyone needs a certain credit card in their wallet.

If Paul were to write a commercial about what’s in our wallet, he would have a different concern.

His question would be what’s in your wallet for YOU verses what’s in your wallet for OTHERS?

Reasons to Consider Giving

Paul devoted chapters 8 and 9 to persuading the Corinthian church to give to the starving Christians in Jerusalem. Their gift was literally a life or death issue for those in Jerusalem.

Here are some excellent reasons for giving, both then and now.

— Return on Investment – 2 Cor. 9.6 – The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

A farmer friend of mine had a test plot of land where he attempted to produce the maximum number of bushels of corn per acre in a test for the seed company. He used his best land for the test, along with the finest fertilizer available.

After all of that provision, what if he had skimped on the amount of seed planted? How shortsighted that would have been?

Why is it that we believe in the law of sowing and reaping when it comes to corn, but are reluctant when it comes to what’s in our wallet?

The same God who produces bushels of corn from what is sown in the grown is able to multiply the money we sow into the lives of people.

— Receipt of God’s Love – 2 Cor. 9.7 – Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

A mother had six children. Three of them had little time for her and seldom came to visit. The other three were always available to help and were usually in daily contact with her.

The mother always cooked Easter dinner for the family. She clearly loved all six of her children equally. However, the three who helped and kept in contact with their mother always seemed to enjoy Easter dinner more than the three who seldom had time for mom.

God loves everyone equally. However, the people who have generous hearts like God’s, seem to enjoy his love in a greater measure.

— God’s Provision – 2 Cor. 9.8-10 – And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

The world’s system imagines money to be like a single pie. They seem to say, “If I don’t get my share of the pie, someone else will and I will go without.”

People who entrust what’s in their wallet to God’s care believe that the pie is not limited. God is perfectly able to provide with every abundant blessing.

Please don’t let the misuse of this truth by dishonest ministers keep you from receiving the full blessing of generous giving that is led by the Holy Spirit.

— To Bless God – 2 Cor. 9.11-12 – You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;

For the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

God doesn’t need our money, but he deeply desires our heart.

When we open what’s in our wallet to others, it reveals an open heart of gratitude to God.

We love, because he first loved us. We give, because he first gave to us.

How we handle what’s in our wallet reveals how deeply God has touched our inner self.

— To Glorify God – 2 Cor. 9.13-14 – Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,

While they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.

When we think of people like Mother Teresa and Albert Schweitzer the common denominator is their giving spirit.

Great givers glorify God and put life on earth in proper perspective. The generous use of their time, talents and money reveals God’s character for everyone to see.

— It’s Only Right – 2 Cor. 9.15 – Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

The greatest giver of all was and is our God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We give him the praise that he is worthy to receive.

God is free to ask us this question, “What’s in your wallet?”

The best response we can give him is, “Dear God, anything you want to do with what’s in my wallet is perfectly okay with me.”

May We Pray for You?

The Maywood Baptist Church prayer team is honored to pray for you. Please email me at bsprad49@gmail.com or private message me on Facebook with your request. We will pray for you.