FRIDAY, August 21

From what do you give to God, from your abundance or from your all? While it is easier to give from one's abundance, after the bills are paid, the groceries are bought, and the vacation is planned, it is often tempting to treat such giving as a tip, a little something extra for the server. Giving from one's all means giving first. It is an act of faith, and as such it is not about "fair share" or tax write-offs or support for a favorite program at the church. Giving from one's all is about understanding that everything we have, everything we use to make our livelihood--our minds, our strength, the materials, even the time we have to work--is a gift from God.

John Wesley said, "Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, and give as much as you can." Giving from one's all keeps things in perspective. It saves us from the deceiving promise of idols which cannot and will not save us at all.

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PRAY for the Diocese of Sebei (Uganda)

Ps 140, 142 * 141, 143:1-11(12); 2 Samuel 19:24-43; Acts 24:24-25:12

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