Have you ever wondered why you're not growing spiritually? The answer might be simpler than you think. Many believers hear the Word but don't do the Word. You might hear a powerful message and think, "Wow, that was good," but unless you put it into practice, you'll never experience what the Word promises. The Bible calls this being a "forgetful hearer" - someone who hears but forgets, never implementing what they've learned.
The sweetness is in the doing. That's where the power of God's Word begins to manifest in your life.
What Makes Uncommon Giving Possible?
When it comes to uncommon giving, there are three key ingredients that affect our ability to give in extraordinary ways. Two of these ingredients are harmful to our spiritual growth, while the third is what we should aspire to embody.
Along with these ingredients, we'll meet three biblical characters who demonstrate these principles: Martha, Judas, and Mary.
Ingredient #1: Pride - The Martha Syndrome
In Luke 10:38-42, we meet Martha, who welcomed Jesus into her home. While her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching, Martha was "distracted with much serving." She even complained to Jesus, saying, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
Jesus' response is revealing: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Pride manifests when we exalt ourselves before the Lord:
- "It is me who is doing this"
- "Without me, it cannot happen"
- "It is by my power that I am making wealth"
- "It is by my strength I am able to do what I do"
This attitude prevents us from sitting humbly at Jesus' feet and allowing Him to reign over our lives. Pride leads us to believe that our accomplishments come from our own strength rather than recognizing God as the source of all we have.
When we sleep at night, we have no control over our bodies. What makes us wake up in the morning? Is it our strength? No - it's God's mercy and power. As Scripture says, "It's not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Pride leads to excessive self-love and independence from God. When we believe our strength is enough to get what we need, we stop praying and depending on the Lord. This is why many believers, especially in prosperous nations, don't see God's power manifested as much - they have alternatives to depending on God.
Remember: "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
Ingredient #2: Poverty Mentality - The Judas Problem
In John 12:1-8, we encounter Judas, who represents more than just betrayal - he embodies a poverty mentality.
Poverty is not merely the lack of money; it's a way of thinking. When Mary anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume worth about 300 denarii (equivalent to $15,000-$25,000 today), Judas objected: "Why was this fragrant oil not sold and given to the poor?"
The Bible reveals his true motive: "This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it."
A poverty mentality views generous giving to God as wasteful. It fails to understand that money is not a tool to serve ourselves but a tool to serve the Lord. This is why many believers pray for financial breakthrough but don't receive it - because they want resources for self-indulgence rather than to advance God's kingdom.
Jesus' response is telling: "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
The approach to relieving poverty isn't just giving food to the poor but transforming mindsets through God's Word. When we read Acts, we see that the early church experienced supernatural power because they stepped into uncommon giving, and "none of them lacked anything."
Ingredient #3: Gratitude - The Mary Example
The third and most powerful ingredient for uncommon giving is gratitude. Mary of Bethany demonstrates this beautifully.
This is the same Mary who sat at Jesus' feet to hear His Word. When you give room to the Word, it transforms you and shapes you to do what pleases the Lord.
Mary took expensive perfume and anointed Jesus' feet, wiping them with her hair. The entire house was filled with fragrance. Why did she do this? Out of gratitude - Jesus had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead!
Gratitude stems from salvation. Many believers haven't fully understood what Christ has saved them from, which affects their heart of gratitude. One of the enemy's lies is to make us focus on what we don't have rather than being thankful for what we do have.
Psalm 116:12-14 asks, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people."
Gratitude is being thankful and ready to show appreciation and return kindness. It's a cycle that should never end.
Why Does Uncommon Giving Matter?
Three things get God's attention:
- When you provoke Him
- When you are thirsty
- When you are hungry (desperate)
Remember the story of the ten lepers? Only one returned to thank Jesus, and to him alone Jesus said, "Go, be made completely whole." The nine who were ungrateful received healing, but not the complete wholeness that comes with gratitude.
A heart of gratitude acknowledges that "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1). When you understand that everything belongs to Him and you're merely a caretaker of what He's given you, your attitude changes, and blessings continue to flow.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to cultivate a heart of gratitude rather than pride or a poverty mentality:
- Start each day by thanking God for specific blessings rather than immediately presenting your requests.
- Examine your giving habits: Are you giving out of duty, or from a heart overflowing with gratitude?
- When you're tempted to complain about what you lack, redirect your thoughts to what God has already provided.
- Practice saying "Thank you, Lord" as your primary prayer at least once this week, without adding any requests.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I being 100% obedient to God's Word in my giving?
- Do I view my resources as mine to control, or as God's entrusted to me?
- When was the last time I gave sacrificially out of gratitude rather than obligation?
- How might my life change if I approached giving with Mary's heart rather than Martha's pride or Judas's poverty mentality?
Remember, uncommon giving flows from a heart that has been transformed by the Word and overflows with gratitude for God's goodness.
