Last night we were greatly blessed to get to know and eat with Scott and Ashley Shaver. Tara shared this past week at a women’s bible study, and Ashley invited our entire family to her home for dinner as a result. They have three beautiful children, all of which are a little bit younger than our three children.
After enjoying some incredible steak, chicken and salad, we dug into some meaty conversation. Scott shared an amazing example of faith put into practice. He talked about taking his paycheck, laying it down (as if on an altar) and asking God how much of it he could keep. I love that, but, as I remarked to him, I’m guessing many people would call that crazy – even people who go to church regularly.
Why don’t we regularly pray like Scott does with regard to our money? Why don’t we ask God every day what we should do that day and in each moment? Why do we think such behavior is crazy? Why is it that people greatly doubt whether someone has “heard from God”? Why do we think people who ask God about everything are lunatics?
Allow me to translate such conduct with regard to our money and time into a conversation with God:
God, I don’t believe you really speak to me.
God, I worked hard for this money, it’s mine, and I don’t trust you with it.
God, I don’t believe you love me and I know that if I give you all my money you will make me give it all away and I’ll be destitute.
You see, our faith in God and who we believe God to be is evidence by our actions. When we can’t lay down our time, our money, our careers, our children, our anything on His altar we are saying “I do not trust you with this.” When we do not ask Him how to use our gifts of talent and time, we are saying we know how to use them better than He does. And, if we don’t trust Him with something, then we our clearly saying to Him that He isn’t Who He claims to be. He isn’t loving. He isn’t gracious. He isn’t giving. He isn’t faithful. He isn’t merciful. He isn’t caring. He isn’t our defender. He isn’t good. And He clearly isn’t our God.