Today was my co-worker’s turn to preach. However, before he ever got up to speak, a little three-year-old girl sitting in the pew in front of me “preached” the first sermon of the day.
As the collection plates were being passed around, this little girl was tightly clutching change she was going to sacrifice for the Lord. When the plate reached her, she held her hand out over the plate and opened her fingers to drop her money in the plate. However, due to clutching the money so tightly, or because she had sticky hands, or a combination of both, the change stuck to her open hand. So she had to pluck the coins from her hand into the plate. As her dime and nickel fell into the plate, she handed the plate to the man who was collecting them, looked at him and said, “Thank you!”
“Thank you?” Doesn’t that seem like an odd response after giving away your money? Usually it is the receiver, not the giver who says thank you. Because of that, this little girl sent my mind racing. When’s the last time I gave thanks for the opportunity to give? I couldn’t remember. But this little girl had it right. We should possess a spirit willing to give thanks for the opportunity we have to give.
You see, when we “give,” we “get.” Not that this is the reason to give. It’s a serendipity; a by-product of our giving, not the aim. But we do indeed “get” when we “give.” For example:
- When we give, we get the opportunity to be like God (John 3:16).
- When we give, we get blessings and happiness (Acts 20:35).
- When we give, we get credit for the good that is done with that money (Philippians 4:17).
So this morning, I got to hear two sermons preached. One from my co-worker, and the other from the little girl sitting in the pew in front of me.
This morning, I was reminded in a way I won’t soon forget, that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).