I got that giving itch from God today. A little tickle on my spirit, saying “My daughter, do you see I have a child in need?”
Every now and then, this burden descends upon me to give financially to a specific person. It’s as if God is sitting on my heart and pressing, firmly adjusting my internal vision to see the crisis at hand and move towards it on behalf of my Father’s will.
I have learned through trial and error to heed this call, avoiding second-guessing and justification,(i.e., does He really want me to go without my monthly Sushi treat or Starbucks?) choosing simple obedience and giving out of my blessings, or lack thereof, depending on the season.
The first time I felt this compulsion to give, I drove over to the family’s home that I felt God nudging me towards and handed them a check. And though it felt good to be obedient, taking credit for the giving proved anticlimactic. It felt awkward and rather prideful taking on the role of a Christmas benefactor.
There I stood at the door, having no idea what to say. Somehow, “Hark, I bring tidings of good will and generosity,” didn’t seem appropriate.
The “secret sauce” was missing and the key factor was taking “me” out of the equation and adding in the actual “secret.”
The next time God put someone on my heart; I got out-of-the-way and allowed Him to be the Giver of all Good Gifts. I simply played the humble steward, using the gifts and talents He had given me to run his estate.
And yes, this time my joy was complete. I got to watch God get the glory and revel in the delight of being a small part of an answered prayer.
Remaining anonymous is like playing Secret Santa without the big reveal, where only you and Jesus know who the real Santa is. It’s a covert mission from God for the average Christian, a little slice of heaven, to be eaten in the company of angels and not men, for the rewards of this obedience can only be seen in the celestial realm.
When a financial gift is given to someone in need, and the giver remains hidden, something mysterious happens in the spiritual world. The person sacrificially given to, though they know not of the giver, has become all the more tender. They have secretly joined in on a “story” of God’s provision.
When I encounter someone whom God financially blessed through me, there is an unexpected seed of compassion deeply rooted in my heart that God has planted. It’s completely beyond my normal and slightly selfish paradigm, unnatural even, but effortless because of God. It is His love weaving through my crusty heart to bless both the giver and recipient.
My story and their story intersect, our journeys of faith swirled in layers of sacrifice, obedience, comfort and provision.
So when the Christmas bonus comes this week, what face comes to mind? A single mom you know, the unemployed father sitting next to you in church, or maybe the family losing their home in your neighborhood?
But please, oh please…don’t forget the “secret sauce” when you put on that Santa Suit!
