Percentage vs. Amount

I’m convinced that our God is a God of percentages. Let me try to explain... There are certain unique attributes that separate one person from another here on earth. Some of us have more time, money, skills, or charisma than others which can be use in service to the cause of Christ. But I think it is less about how much we have, or give, and more about what percentage we use for him. For example, if you’ve been blessed with an amazing ability to serve the Lord because of where you were born, your loving upbringing, and your God-given ability to speak well; and I was born with a mental disability, an oppressive upbringing in a low rent neighborhood, with a speech impediment; that God may not expect the same from me as he does from you. So, because of your blessed ability, if God allowed you to win 1000 souls for the kingdom and me to win only 10, that our contribution might just be equal in God’s eyes. Check out what it says in Luke 12:1-4

"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'”

In this portion of scripture Jesus is saying that even though the widow only gave 2 copper coins, she gave 100% of what she had. And while the others gave a much greater amount, it may have only been 5% of what they owned. So, it is more about the percentage than the amount. Jesus said that she put in more than the others. Think of the parable of the talents. Why did one person get 5 to start off with, another 2 and another 1? Why not all of the same? And when the one with 5 doubled it, he was treated much the same as the person who doubled his 2. I believe that with God, no matter what you start with, the percentage of what you give, or earn, is more important than how much you give, or earn. Make sense? Anyway, that’s what I think the bible is revealing.

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The story of the widow’s offering proves that God cares more about the percentage than the amount of what we give to him. Which is one reason I believe the tithe is tallied at 10 percent of what we bring in and not a set dollar amount. But I don’t believe that this is only in reference to money. I think it applies to anything we do in his name. The bible reminds us that God wants all of us, not just a portion of us. And as we serve him, I believe that he looks at what percentage of ourselves we give more than the amount of what we give. So, if you’re seeing others who are dynamic for God, and you aren’t able to be because of a physical or mental limitation, remember this portion of scripture. If you are poor and can hardly make ends meet, but you see those who are much better off than you are making a difference with their finances, remember this scripture. This doesn’t mean you have no responsibility because of your limitations, but because of this scripture, I believe that there is a difference.

Not Your Words

The bible clearly tells us that it is God who draws people to himself. It isn’t really anything we say that lead people to Christ. Yes, I believe God uses what we say, but it is the Holy Spirit that does the work. Most often, I believe the Holy Spirit has already been at work in someone’s heart and you might just be the one to help finish what has already been started. Then there are also those who are simply not ready to hear and receive the message yet. They may even be violently opposed to it. For these individuals, we can only pray that God draw them to himself, because until he does, the message of the cross comes across as pure foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

The idea of the gospel on its own can be difficult for people to accept. It is a fantastic story that could read like fiction if only it weren’t true. But it is true, and the Holy Spirit is the one who opens our eyes to that truth. I encourage you to pray that the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of those around you who don’t believe. Because it isn’t really the words that we speak that will win others over to Christ, it is the power of the Holy Spirit, drawing them to himself.

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Remember what first Corinthians says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” Nothing we can say will change that mindset. If you know of someone who is totally shut off to the gospel, I encourage you to pray that the Holy Spirit open their eyes, and draw that person to the Father. It may be that God will use you in that process, or maybe he’ll use something or someone else. God assures us that it isn’t his desire that anyone perish, so you know that he wants unbelievers to turn their hearts to him. Knowing that, our prayers should be full of faith, knowing that we are praying within his will.

In Vain

A good friend of mine once warned me not to get so wrapped up in doing the work of the Lord that I forget about the Lord of the work. I love how he put that, because I know sometimes I get so wrapped up in the task that I neglect inviting the Holy Spirit in on the project. But that principle isn’t just a warning, it is something that we as believers, who do ministry for the Lord, should never forget. Psalm 127:1-2 says this:

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

When we forget the Lord of the work in anything we try to accomplish, our work is in vain. So, I encourage you, before you put your hands to the plow, so to speak, remember to invite the Holy Spirit in on the project. Pray that he bless the work of your hands, anoint the words of your mouth, and make your path straight for the task, because otherwise, without the Lord right beside you, all the work you’re trying to accomplish – even if it is for him – could amount to much less than you may desire.

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With whatever we try to accomplish, especially if it is work for the Lord, we can’t forget the Lord of the work. Otherwise, our work could be in vain. The Holy Spirit is the catalyst to everything spiritual. We are just flesh, working in a world that we can see. But there are things happening in the spiritual world that we can’t see. These things, even though we can’t see them, make all the difference in what we are trying to accomplish. So, when we go about our work, we need to make sure that the spirit world is held in check and that the Holy Spirit is active in our activity. I encourage you to make it a practice to pray before you put your hand to the plow – so to speak.

Jesus Understands

One of the many things I love about our God is that he understands us. Not just because he created us, but because he sent his son to be one of us. And when Jesus was here, he learned what it meant to be truly human, because he was tempted, felt pain, and experienced the struggles of the flesh just like we do, but he did it without sinning. Even still, his understanding of what we go through helps in his desire to be a merciful and faithful high priest. It says in Hebrews 2:17-18:

"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

To me, that is an incredible truth, because it didn’t have to be that way. God makes all of the rules, but he chose to have his son experience what we experience here on earth. In doing that, we know that he understands what we are going through, because he experienced trials of humanity himself. So, whatever you’re dealing with right now, Jesus knows what you’re going through. Not just because he is all knowing, but because he lived life on this earth as a human and can empathize with the human condition. And in that empathy, comes a mercy that may have been presented to us differently if he hadn’t. Praise God for that!

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The bible tells us that Jesus was made human, like us, in every way. He knows what it is like to be human in a fallen world, to be tempted by fleshly things and to feel sorrow and pain. He can empathize with us, and the bible says that this was done so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God. We really shouldn’t take that truth for granted, because it didn’t have to be that way. We are his lowly creation, yet he decided to become like us so that he can experience what it is like to be human. That is a God who truly loves us. And this experiment in humanity culminated in the salvation of those who believe and put their trust in him through his death and resurrection on the cross. I’ve been a Christian for several decades now, and I never want to take for granted these truths, because I always know in the back of my mind, that God could’ve decided to play things out differently. But because of his great love for us, he chose to become like us.

The Mirror

It is great to aspire to be a scholar of the bible; to read it daily and to know what it says. But knowing what it says is only half the journey. The hard part is actually doing what it says. If we only hear what it says and don’t do what it says, who are we fooling? Who are we trying to impress with what we’ve learned? The bible tells us that if we don’t do what the bible says, it is just like looking into a mirror then walking away and forgetting what we look like. James 1:22-25 says:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does."

I challenge you to give some thought to that portion of scripture. Like a mirror, the bible reflects who we really are. The bible is described as being sharper than any two-edged sword. It cuts us deep when we read it because it shows how unholy we are. The principles of the bible go against our fleshly desires and challenges the worldly norms. But what good is it if we read it and don’t do what it says? It is like ignoring the truth - ignoring what we really look like. The bible says that by actually doing what we hear, we will be blessed in what we do. I know I want that for myself and I want it for you as well.

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The key isn’t just learning what the bible says, the key is actually doing what it says. Let’s not deceive ourselves of the truth. I challenge you to find out what the bible says for yourself and let the Holy Spirit reveal its truths to you. Many people, including myself in this book, try to tell you what the bible is saying. Often times some of the most challenging scripture are not talked about often in churches, Christian songs or shows that you might listen to. We, as believers, need to educate ourselves on what the bible says, discern what we hear from others – including our pastors, and do only what the bible says even if it challenges some of what we’ve heard from others.