How Do We Give Effectively?

For a long time I viewed stewardship as simply giving money as generously as possible. I compare it to the image of a farmer casting seed in a field. God gave me seed to cast, and I was supposed to just spread it all over the place.

My initial belief was that the faster and the more I gave away, the better. Picture me taking tons of seed and putting it in the back of a dump truck. So far, so good. But what if I take off down the highway as fast as I can drive, pull the lever, and let the seed fly out of the back? You know where most of the seed would end up—on the pavement. Not fertile, not smart, and certainly not profitable. But, if generosity is the primary goal, maybe I could do better if I went a little faster. Or had a bigger truck.

I thought this was an effective way to distribute God’s resources. In the world’s eyes, this is how I’d become a generous donor. What I didn’t realize is that God has a better way—more efficient and more effective. In God’s economy, the number of seeds isn’t as much of an issue as their placement.

Rather than a three-foot swath along the side of the highway, I could have planted seed like farmers who really know what they are doing. If I would just take a sack of seed and go into a fertile field, I could scatter the seed carefully where God directs. A lot less seed would produce a much greater harvest within God’s economy.

The lesson is obvious. When I strategically sowed money where the Holy Spirit prompted me, there was a great harvest. Of course, it’s much easier to broadcast the seed through a dump truck, but the results aren’t very satisfying. So, I try to do my homework, put in the effort, listen carefully, and cast by hand. Don’t fall for shortcuts. Doing the harder work up front seems to be God’s way of doing things. The rewards follow in due time.

Dear Lord, give me wisdom to sow the wealth You have blessed me with in effective ways that please You. Amen.