God calls us to have open hands.  This is a thought that has been rolling around in my mind often these days. Open hands receive easily and give easily.  I love 1 Corinthians 9:6 that tells us that Whoever sows sparingly with reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will reap generously.

 

When it comes to money, cash is not always easy to get but is always easy to spend.  Have you ever felt your grip tighten as you feel your pocket lighten?  The natural response is to hold on with clenched, white knuckles.   I saw a sign in our local school that said Pay Yourself First.  Saving isn’t a bad idea but really, who should we pay first?   Sow sparingly, reap sparingly.

Same thing with time.  I enjoy lazy Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons……and maybe weekday evenings too.  I guess I might be a hermit if I had my way.  I hold my time really tight sometimes!  The show Biggest Loser is constantly sprinkled with contestants that say it’s time to make themselves a priority; they’re going to put themselves first with their time from now on.  Staying healthy is great but really, who should come first?  Sow sparingly, reap sparingly.

 

What if we decided to stop guarding our money and our time from God?  What if we started putting Him first in everything?  All through scripture it is SO clear that the God we serve is a God who wants our first fruits!  In Haggai we see God’s people building houses for themselves while the rebuilding of God’s house is being neglected.  God asks them to think about why they plant much but harvest little, why they eat but never get full.  They put on clothes but aren’t warm, they earn money but put it in purses filled with holes.  They go to draw fifty measures of wine but only find twenty.  They were holding their hands closed, taking care of themselves first.  Sow sparingly, reap sparingly.

 

God says Pay ME First and watch what I do!  He told his people in Haggai he would shake the heavens and earth filling his house with glory and He would grant peace in that place.  Keep your hand open, give to God first.   Sow generously, reap generously.