Generosity is Not Giving Your Leftovers

Last week I shared a story of how God had proven generous through unexpected means. Were you able to identify a similar situation in your own life where God was generous toward you in an unexpected way? 

In the midst of learning that God is generous in unexpected ways, I was also realizing that I had been giving God my leftovers… With my time and my finances. 

I didn’t consciously decide to do this, but whenever I decided to “do something if I had time” or to “give to my church after I paid for groceries” I was giving God my leftovers. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, in terms of food, I LOVE leftovers. But could you imagine eating only leftovers for the rest of your life? Never enjoying fresh baked cookies or bread. Never experiencing pizza straight from the oven – only getting to eat pizza after you’ve popped it into the microwave and it gets all chewy (you know what I’m talking about). 

While at times, leftovers can be fine, God doesn’t want to always get your leftovers. Because whatever is left over is our 2nd or 3rd best. In fact, he wants us at our best, and wants to be first in all that we do. Including how we spend our money. 

When I was choosing to only participate in faith-focused activities IF I had the time at the end of my day, I was giving God my leftovers. When I decided that my own happiness from the activities I pursued (like skiing – that’s expensive) was more important than giving financially to ministries that are helping to grow the kingdom of God, I was giving Him my leftovers. 

True generosity does not mean giving after you’ve filled your own bucket and paid yourself first. Becoming an excellent money manager of the resources God has entrusted to you means learning to give the first and the best. 

-Katie Jones