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Giving Sacrificially A husband and wife who were traveling around the world saw a boy in Korea one day pulling a crude plow in a field, while an old man held the plow handles and directed it through the rice paddy. The husband was amused by the sight and took a snapshot of the scene. “That’s very curious,” he remarked to the missionary who was their interpreter and guide. “I suppose they are poor.” “Yes,” said the missionary. “That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money, so they sold the only ox they had and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.” The husband and wife were silent. Then the wife said, “That was a real sacrifice.” “They did not call it that,” said the missionary. “They thought it was fortunate they had an ox to sell.” The two tourists had not much to say, but, when they reached home, they took the photograph to the church and told their pastor about the incident. “We want to double our pledge to the church,” they said, “and give us some plow work to do. We never knew what gratitude or joy or sacrifice really meant until now.” God spoke to this couple through their experience in Korea about the joy that comes from giving. In His Word, God speaks to all of us about the importance of giving. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He also said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). If we choose not to give faithfully and generously, we forego the blessings that God gives to those who give cheerfully. There is no better time than now to examine your level of giving, and, if need be, to take a leap of faith and increase your giving. In the words of Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we give; we make a life by what we give.” Taken from Stewardship Advisors, Birmingham MI
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