I just had my Dog out for a long walk, and I found a $20.00 thank you Jesus, thank you Lord!
Unless you need 20 bucks, go buy some milk for someones toddler.
Who are you to tell me how to celebrate this bounty from heaven, this gift from God? I am a Christian!
***Longish post alert***storytime***
Probably because if it's from the Lord, you are gonna cross paths with someone who has spent all morning praying to God for help and it's not for you.
You know?
Crack the bible to see how concerned God is with our material comfort. Spoiler alert: He isn't.
You get to eat later, right? Your needs are met....now go be the tool God uses to meet someone elses.
Arent you lefties all about that? Seriously?
One time I took my mother out for a sit down meal at some greasy spoon mom and pop diner. At the time I worked at Pizza Hut and i was pretty broke all the time because i contributed to our bill's. I had 23 dollars exactly and I was starving. Like full on hangry starving. My stomach was eating itself.
And there was this man just sitting in a both behind us. He looked rough....but not homeless. He looked like a guy having a really bad day. He was sitting there with water. He asked my mother for a cigarette. (You could smoke in restaurants at this time).
So our food came and I just had this overwhelming urge to give this man my food. I dont know why. I was arguing with myself(probably arguing with God....I wasnt a believer yet but God will use whoever He uses). As hungry as I was....I didnt not want to give my food away.
Wouldnt you know I got sick? Suddenly I just felt like barfing. The smell of my food was making me sick. And there was that urge to give it to this guy. It became more of a demand I do it. Then I was scared of talking to this strange man and giving my plate....how awkward is that? But I'm telling you, it was unbearable for me. I got so queasy and uncomfortable that I HAD to.
So I turned around, set my plate on his table and told him he could have that. He didnt say anything. He just looked at me and learned forward and took it. This man ate like he hadn't eaten in days.
And I felt fine almost immediately after I let go of that plate. And I wasnt even hungry anymore until I got home.
That whole episode was so bizzare and intense I am convinced it was God wanting that man fed. Whoever he was and whatever he was going through... God was serious about feeding him that day. There was no way I was gonna comfortably sit there and eat. God made that food revolting to me. I was nearly gagging on the smell.
If God blesses you with something like money, He wants you to use it to help and bless others. God will always make sure you have what you need to do it.
That outreach I went through runs entirely on donations. The pastor refuses government funds and completely relies on God to provide. When I graduated and started working for them, every morning staff would gather to pray over the budget and the residents.
Every single year without fail they meet the budget. And there has been some intense months. It costs over a million a year to run that place. God always makes sure they have it so this place can continue feeding and taking care of people. Sometimes money would just come in from places no one even knew about. You will always find God in nature and among the broken. I had many moments with God working in hospice as well. So many nights where His presence was overwhelming. You can tell the residents that were in Lord from how well they die. They pass in peace and they glow.
Ultimately you found the money and you'll do with it what you will. I'm just pointing out an opportunity to use a gift from God as a gift from God. Every single that happens is happening because God allowed it and "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" - Roman's 8:28. Someone else lost that so you could have it....use it wisely.