1 Timothy 6:18 reads, "...be generous and willing to share. In this way, [you] will lay up treasures for [yourself]" (NIV). The principle of reciprocity is basic to God's nature. We've all heard, "You can't outgive God." And it's true.
As a little boy my parents taught me some basic principles that I would suggest you consider teaching your children. I was 5 years old when my parents began to assign my siblings and I chores around the house. An older brother who was 8, a sister who was 7, and my twin brother all learned this lesson together. Our parents assigned each child certain tasks that must be done each week in order for us to get our allowance. Now, for some of you reading who have no idea what an allowance is, let me explain. We would be paid 15 cents each week if we did all our chores. At that time, 15 cents meant so much to me.
My parents taught me how to manage this money. I was taught to put 5 cents into a jar called savings, 5 cents on the top of my dresser to give in the offering at church during Sunday School. I then had 5 cents to spend and I would take that and run to get to the store where I could buy gum and candy. Think about this, I was 5 years of age and learning the importance of saving and giving. Those lessons have done me well my entire life. I learned at an early age to save and to give, and I learned what it meant to see the savings jar fill up and turn into dollars. I learned that with the dollars you could buy other items that would be more important to you. I truly appreciate my parents for those lessons as a child.
When I was in my twenties I had the privilege of working with David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge. He to taught me some valuable lessons on the management of money and how to manage ones blessings.
One day, Brother Dave, during casual conversation with our staff, was short on cash and asked to borrow a twenty-dollar bill. Happy to assist, I pulled out the twenty and handed it to him. Brother Dave took that twenty dollar bill and paused to share a lesson with me. "Jerry" he said, "when someone gives you something in one hand, place it in the other hand and pass it on. If you take it to your chest, secure it with the other hand and keep it all for yourself, then you don't have a hand free to receive more." He went on to say, "Give what is given to you and God will keep giving to you in order that you can keep giving. You can't out-give God, thus you will end up with all you need and then some!"
God proved His giving principle time and again. I learned that God's provisions are not limited. In fact, He has such an imagination and storehouse of means, that He can far exceed what our minds can calculate. Let me illustrate.
I was invited to attend a district ministers' meeting where a pastor had challenged all the district churches to give sacrificially to a mission project in Bosnia. Our Teen Challenge ministry was already giving to help other Teen Challenge programs in the Caribbean at that time. With that in mind, I felt my obligation was to our own ministry, and at first was not "moved" to contribute to the Bosnia cause.
As I listened to the pastor from Bosnia, I became overwhelmed with the sensation that God wanted me to be involved. At first, I asked God if He were directing me to open a center in the area, but the Lord clearly indicated, "No, just help by giving." I was relieved that God wasn't asking me to start another project, and one in a foreign country at that. Still, giving to another ministry when our own was in need was a challenge. As I continued to seek God's guidance on how we were to become involved, I felt impressed to give $5,000. I thought to myself, "We don't have $5,000 to donate, and we've started building projects that are really challenging to fund." However, I obeyed the Lord's promptings and pledged $5,000 through $1,000 monthly gifts over the next five months.
Let me tell you that God was quick to respond. The next Monday, I received a call from a donor whose mother wanted to contribute some money to Teen Challenge. She was going to set up a trust, but the donor suggested she give the donation right then. I shared with this patron our obligations to current building projects and what a blessing it would be to have the money at that time. She contributed $50,000 in stock with a promise of an additional $50,000 at the first of the next year. Our prayer was answered, and we had received abundantly more than we had even hoped.
What I am saying is that giving is just as important, if not more important, than receiving. Learning to give out of your own need in order to bless others always gets God's attention. God sees the widow's mite, every need we have, and He may be allowing us to learn faith and the principle of giving.
As we face our challenges in funding building projects, operations and the ongoing cost of ministry, I'm convinced that it's not a lack of money but a lack of relationships that impede our fundraising efforts. Build relationships with those in the community who are respected and influential and with those who share your same passions. Make new friends and maintain your commitment to old friends. Many of our graduates are now on staff, and many others support us faithfully through contributions and service.
The principle of giving is a two-way street-giving and receiving. The scriptures tell us, "Give and it shall be given unto you." We have given thousands of dollars to various mission projects; we support college campus pastors and have helped Teen Challenge directors from around the world raise money.
Managing our blessings is one of the greatest lessons we learn in ministry. The seasoned leaders in Teen Challenge know the faithfulness of God. He may not always respond according to our timeline, but He is always faithful.
Keep your head up, listen to the heart of God and how He might want you to apply what I have said to you today. Give and it shall be given.
Putting Hope Within Reach,
Jerry Nance
