"Show Me the Money!!!" by Lawton Graves


So We always hear about how The Well needs you to give back to God what is already His.  And sure The Well needs it.  There are bills to pay to keep the doors open and the lights on.  Those bills get paid with our tithes and the generous giving of other churches that help support us.  But do you think our all knowing, all powerful, and almighty God really needs our $20?  Sure God uses our tithe for His glory, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking we are doing Him a service by giving to the Church. 

So why does God call us to give?  He is all powerful, He doesn't need a few dollars from us every week.  God calls us to give because of what it does for US.  Now I understand this may initially seem counterintuitive.  If God wants what is best for me, why wouldn't He allow me to keep my hard earned money to spend as I see fit?  I need food and water, a roof over my head, a big T.V. to help me unwind after a long day, and fancy clothes so I can look good in the mirror.

God calls us to give because He knows what a powerful and corrupting force money can be.  It can drive even the most ardent Christian to fall into a multitude of sin.  Money allows us to shift the focus of our lives from Him to ourselves.  Why do I need to rely on God if I own a big fancy house and have a huge bank account?  I can take care of myself.  Why do I need to see myself as a wonderful child of God if I can dress in expensive clothes and impress my friends and the world around me? 

God knows what is best for us.  If I can give my hard earned money to God for His glory instead of my own, and I can do so cheerfully, I'll also be able to follow God's plan for the finances in the rest of my life.  If I am consciously deciding to give to His Church each and every week, it will be harder for me to fall into the sinful greed that so often accompanies the "almighty" dollar.  Giving to God what is already His allows us to follow His holy plan for our lives.  Giving to The Well cheerfully and generously is the first step.

(Lawton Graves is a third year student at The Florida State University's College of Law.)

Mark Your Calendars

The Well Classifieds can help you find a roommate give a dog away, find a prayer partner, etc. With circulation to over 500 people each week, who knows how you might connect!  To submit an ad contact Matthew Robinson at matthew@thewelltallahassee.com

HAITI NEEDS
This November, The Well's Prayer Team Coordinator, Caryn Shivar, is headed on a mission trip to Haiti. Her group is collecting vitamins, toiletry items (such as travel size shampoos, soap, lotion, etc), anti-acid aids and school materials (such as paper, pencils, sharpeners and erasers).  If you can donate, please drop off these items in the Portico this Sunday!

Please contact Josh Fruit at 850.228.2807

ONE MORE WAY TO SERVE
Go buy a raffle ticket!  You could win an 1800 square foot house for only $20.  Visit winmyhousefor20.com and tell 'em The Well sent you!