I was out in our back yard playing with my daughter when I saw a pink balloon that hadn’t been there 5 minutes earlier. Interested, we went over to check it out. As with any kid, my daughter loves balloons. There is something about them being suspended in the air that puts kids in a state of awe and amazement, and allows them to play with the balloon for an indefinite amount of time without tiring.
When I went over to pick up the pink balloon that had fallen from the sky, I noticed there was writing on it that said, “To: God From: Lana.”
When I saw this I smiled so big. Knowing how valuable balloons are to kids (especially the ones filled with helium) I thought it was so neat that Lana decided that she wanted to freely give it to God; what an amazing expression of love!
This kind of generous, joyful giving reminds me of the story of the Widow’s Offering.
The Widow’s Offering
41
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were
put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich
people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small
copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said,
“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44
They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all
she had to live on.”
Lana gave what was most valuable to her at the time back to God because of His love for her. In the same way, as we are filled with gratitude and appreciation for the love of Christ that has changed our lives and given us abundant life now, one of the expressions of love we can show is giving back to God. Not only is it an expression of love that pleases the Lord, but it is something that God has commanded because He knows that it will bring freedom in our lives. Giving 10%, the firstfruits of our income, will bring more blessings in your life than you will be able to count, and we know that God will use the resources of time and money that we give back to exponentially bless others.
This kind of joyful “Pink Balloon Giving” can be something that frees us from serving money, worrying about finances, and being consumed with “stuff”. It is above and beyond the usual 10%, but it will bring joy, freedom, and abundant blessing from the Lord.
I challenge you to “Pink Balloon Giving” and find what God has intended for you.
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my storehouse. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Boom!
