In 2002, I had the opportunity to travel with George Ridley, Director of our global missions work, to see LightForce International’s response to the crisis in northern Uganda.
Hundreds of thousands of people had been forced from their homes by ‘The Lord’s Resistance Army’ and were now living in camps, in search of safety. The memories of that week are burned deep into my consciousness, but one stands out most.
One morning, I watched as people, displaced, and disenfranchised through no fault of their own, waited to receive a handout they never expected to need. Every person humbly accepted their food and carefully carried it back to their makeshift tents.
Later that week, I was invited to the camp’s church service, gathered under the heat of the morning sun, sitting on the dusty ground. Mercifully, as a sun-starved Scotsman, I was given a seat under the shade of a lone tree.
The Offering
As we sang, I noticed some of the people I had seen waiting for food earlier in the week, dancing their way to the front of the gathering. In turn, they placed grain and wheat on a large leaf at an improvised alter. Confused, I asked one of the members what was happening and with tears rolling down my cheeks, I listened in astonishment. He explained that these same people, displaced and desperate, who I had been serving all week with a meagre meal, were now bringing their tithes and offerings to Jesus.
I have reflected on this experience many times in the years since. I am always drawn to a piece of scripture penned by the Apostle Paul, delighting in a group of believers. The young Macedonian churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and Bera, were harshly persecuted and it had left them desperately poor.
“Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colours: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor.”
The Macedonian believers’ pockets were empty, but the pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.
“I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could — far more than they could afford.
Giving Beyond Our Means
We often hear the term, “people living beyond their means”, but these desperately poor Macedonians were ‘giving’ beyond their means. Significantly, they gave themselves to God above all else, and demonstrated an incredible level of faith and trust in God’s provision. Wonderfully, we read that their trust was rewarded and God multiplied their gifts.
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
Stretched To The Brink
In our time, when the economy is being shaken, budgets are being stretched to breaking point and fear for the future is rising, it’s important to remember we have a God who never fails. He never faces a “cost of living crisis”. He has the treasure rooms of all Heaven at his disposal. Like the Macedonians, as we surrender our lives wholly and unreservedly to God, we too will discover that our is not only one who “supplies all our needs” but He will continue to pour more grace into our lives.
Resources For You
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