It’s so natural to our fleshly way of thinking to want to keep everything for ourselves. Yet, God calls his people to think in a completely new way. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). In order to live this way, we must be willing to die to our normal way of thinking. Paul says of his Christian life, “I die every day” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Every single day, I’m killing my sinful desires. What my flesh wants, I destroy it. I wage war against the enemy of my soul. I die to myself, and I chose to stop keeping back all of my possessions for myself.
It’s so important to remember that God sees our sacrifices, even when no one else knows how hard it is for us to surrender. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). God is an extravagant Rewarder, and He wants us to believe that.
Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Let’s choose to put God first. Let’s choose to advance His kingdom, even at the expense of our earthly possessions. Give generously, and He will give us more than we could ever imagine.