"Whoever has the World's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:17,18.
In other words we all need to resolve to a higher order of spiritual truth in the things we value. A tender heart for people should be the rule not an exception to the rule..... I applaud Patnubay for such a heart--God bless you and may God provide for you as well. But most would agree with that.
But when God says it is the rule and not the exception to give when anyone needs period, we say, "Well God what about the, other things you say we can save for? Like,the 90% of our gain, I have given my 10% with glee, or the saving for the future, you say this is of good stewardship, or the taking care of family, after all you don't want my kids to look sickly do you? Priorities God Priorities!! Or even the need to spread your Word thru gifts to missions? You don't want your Word to stop here do you? You have said this is honorable....
I can hear God saying, " Oh ye of little faith." These things you say are indeed OK for all to do, and as long as you are not spending foolishly, or using your funds for things outside of my teachings, or hoarding it, or making it your god, or letting it in anyway replace or damage your relationship to Me, it is fine to be of sound mind in your provisions. But what is sound mind?
... Know that the 90% is also mine, know I can give to you a bounty of retirement if you honor me in faithfulness toward my standards of love for people, know I am the author of security, not financial gain that can be gone in an instance, know I will provide for your family for I am capable beyond your dreams, know I have sent you out into the world to preach the gospel of my truth, so I too will provide, for if you give in honor of my heart, I will give in the way of that heart I have placed in you. You can not out give me, for I am all and in all. Money is not a concern of mine, only your heart is, and your willingness to give and the act of giving shows of such a love for me.
He wants us to see thru His eyes, which is different than a concerned humans eyes. "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." We are to see His example of service and love for others as our own.Not as a hallmark idea, but as our own. To let God provide for us and for us to provide for who we can faithfully. God will not let you become foolish in your giving, He will tell you when it is better to do this than that.He just wants you to say, "OK God I am willing here I go..." Followed by "OK, God can I, I need to...." The life of a person in the Spirit is different than simply a life. Spiritual truth is different than simply rational choices.