Giving: Act of God to do heart-check.

At Bridgeport Canada Line Bus Station
"Hey, do you have 75 cents for me to go to Tsawwassen?", a young lad asked me.
"Oh, sorry I don't have coins for now." He left. Then I thought I could sell my tickets for a lower price. I looked for him and tried to sell my ticket. "I only have 5 cents", said he. I returned back to my seat.


I tried to put myself in his place. The young lad desperately needed to go several miles away begging for every person in the station he encounters, and looking for some ray of hope to slip in. On the other hand,  I was thinking of my $2.50 that I would possibly give away.

In the gospel Jesus interacted with all sorts of people, if our prayer is to be more like him and less of us, then how should we respond on this situation?

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James NIV

Spending a luxurious meal or entertainment of $15-25 weekly is nothing compared to $2.5 once in a blue moon. Selfish VS. Christ-like character. Selling a ticket doesn't mean helping him wholeheartedly, its a form of Self-centeredness that shows insincerity. Supporting full-timers and missionaries to rationalize and justify of being selfless and generous is not God's primary concern. Though, its amazing but its not his primary concern. What he's after is YOUR Heart. Selective giving is deciding on how, when, and where to give in certain circumstances proves to be partial. Whenever God speaks to us to give, just give. Giving is not constrained on a Sunday nor a monthly support and donation. He calls us to "..be generous on every occasion." - 2 Cor. 9:11


After wrestling with God, I decided just to give my ticket. I obeyed his will. While he was still going around in circles, begging every person in the waiting line, I stood and approached him saying "Hey! you can just have my ticket.". He replied "It's Ok I don't need it anymore" said he.


God tested me as he tested Abraham in Gen 22. Our broken and contrite heart is his concern. By putting our trust and faith unto him through obedience magnifies that he is the Lord of all. He owns, and controls everything. He wants so see if we will follow him. He is after our heart.

That time, he re-educated my mindset, re-molded my attitude, re-evaluated the condition of my heart towards that area in my life.


Giving is a Double edged sword. Its both an Act of Faith to bless, and letting God to check the condition of our heart.

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