Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 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.
In the development world we are always connecting with people and explaining our work. When asked, many of us would answer "I am the development officer for ...." or "I am the fundraiser for ....". True enough, that describes our specific function, but it falls short of the wonderful purpose God has given us to be catalysts for biblical stewardship.
If we see our purpose as larger (dare I say global?) then we may begin to approach our work as more than fulfilling a role in the organizational chart or raising a certain sum of money.
What if you answered the "what do you do" question with "My role is to encourage people to unleash resources from their wealth and plow them into the Kingdom". To which, they would reply (after they chuckled in amusement), "That's a tall order".
Indeed it is and that is why it requires the very word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit.
However, if we let the Spirit do the "heavy lifting" of changing hearts, then our work is one of being an aid to and a messenger of the One who owns all of the resources and our very lives in the palm of His hand. And, according to Scripture, we are to test God in this and see if He does not throw open the floodgates of heaven.
When we look at our work with this bigger view we are better positioned to be a help to the donor. Even if we are part of an effort that causes the donor to give to a ministry other than our own, we can rejoice because the donor was blessed in the act of giving.
"Raising our gaze" gives our work the high calling that it should have.
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