$1,000

Satan wants everyone to be fearful and suspicious...


Starting with learning to live without fear while trusting in the Lord...


Isn't that what it is supposed to be all about? Isn't that what we are called to do? Shouldn't we be living in such a way that has the effect on other people of leaving them thinking:

"I want some of what they've got..."

Which of these did you really mean to say? :

1) "Of course, I do it whether I have a lot or a little. To me, giving money is the only way to show His heart."

2) "Of course, I do it whether I have a lot or a little. To me, giving money is only a way to show His heart."

3) something else?

If it is the first, then I think you are missing the whole point of the thread.

If it is the second, then I think you are not realizing that there is a whole lot more to it than that.

If it is the third, then what is it?

I don't have time to read the entire thread, just the OP. Can you imagine having to read the whole thread on each one I post? Lol

I've given rather a lot away in all sorts of ways, money, time, gifts, things.
But I would rather not talk about it

Money is one of the main barriers to God. That is why, in Western culture people strive to be close to God while having enough money, but in poorer cultures people strive for money but are often very close to God. In poorer cultures, people are very giving while having very little, but in Western culture, people are very stingy while having much and complaining about it. (Think about the luxury you have compared to someone in the African outbacks?)

I did a social experiment involving this catalyst called money, and it's the biggest experiment I tried in my life because I could not have foreseen the consequences of it.

And yes you might say, well in poor countries, corruption is rife. Well corruption is I believe more rife in wealthier countries. If you think about it, not so long ago, wealthy countries like America and the UK, enslaved people of other countries. Slavery is still there, just in the form of money poverty. Where there is money, there is more possibility of invisible slavery wrapped in legal loopholes. Wealth loves law.

Money is the biggest barrier to God, because it is material. Imagine giving up everything and giving it away to a good cause so you have nothing, but having the faith that God is Good and will reward you? Most cannot. It's very much a cultural thing where we never really know whether the grass IS greener, but we look at those who are able to do this and are inspired. Those who give up their life of luxury (a roof over your head, a shower, internet, TV, clean water), and go live in a poor country to help those in need, in servitude.

It's been about 10 years since my experiment which taught me so many things about God and reality. I've been hoping for the faith to try experiment number 2. Anyway all I can say is the results were very much of a supernatural level that I cannot explain in a way you would understand without trying it yourself. But it did feel to me, in my opinion, that I found within that experiment (money was only the catalyst in it), the keys to the kingdom. I now know that when the Bible talks of such, it's not necessarily talking about 'at the end', it's a version of reality. Try reading the Bible without the concept of time. Time bends things into a certain form. There are so many ways of perceiving things.

My experiment was based on many micro donations (in one form or another) every day, to many people. It is about frequency, rather than donating £1000 once a month. It doesn't take much 'time' to make such a big transaction once, but it does take much 'time' to spread that in to many transactions every day, with the people you work with, the people you live with, the people you know, and complete strangers. I was working with micro transactions of about 15p. However due to inflation I'd probably have to work with 25-50p in my next experiment. There are many things you can buy for someone with this small amount of money.

I got it, what makes you think we don't?

God is still in money. But rather than giving money, giving things it is spent on. You can give a beggar a smile, but in his case giving him money directly brings a smile too.

Back to the money side, I won't go into specifics but I've given a lot. Lol

On the other hand if someone came up to me and asked for spare change, unless
I could see it was a genuine immediate need. I.e. Lost bus fare, someone needed
the toilet (we have some public toilets where you pay to spend a penny lol),
that kind of thing, then I would refuse.

Why, well because I've seen people try that on a lot, they get lots of spare change then
go drink it all.

On the other hand what Willie is referring to. Time, politeness, patience, smile etc.
we all do that I would think. Ive done that and more, I do it daily with my aunt.
Ive do it for friends and family without them even realising it. I do it for strangers.

Ive done it when it's been most inconvenient for me but the other person hasn't
known that.

Ive taken strangers to places when they asked for directions rather than just telling
them (assuming it's safe and in a public busy place).

Ive asked depressed friends if they want to pop into town with me for a bite to eat
after church. Even though I wasn't planning on going before hand and have had
other things I wanted to do.

Ive gone to visit people in hospital even though I'm stressed to the eyeballs and have
a hundred other things to do.

I say thank you to bus drivers when I get off, I open doors for people (old school as
many don't bother now).

I lent my £2,300 soprano saxophone barely out of its brand new box (well case) to
an enthuastic 16 year old who really really wanted to try it out (he already had a
alto and was thinking of asking mum and dad for a soprano). That really hurt a lot
that was more painful than giving him a million pounds! Lol

and much much more

But to be honest I see other Christians do the same so I just assume it's
common and nothing particularly to shout about. It's called kindness,
even non Christians can do kindness.

Now the money thingy, that's different that takes a real giver, especially in hard times.
So the money thing is probably the real test.

I have said for sometime that it is the little things that matter more than one who gives out of abundance...Jesus proves this in the following examples....

a. The widow woman who gave the least, but gave the most because she gave all

b. Even a simple cup of cold water given will not go unoticed and or unrewarded......

Just a few points to ponder

God loves the cheerful giver

It is more blessed to give, than to receive

As you sow, so shall you reap

Well if you're offering.