43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

Even though the poor woman in this passage gave a little bit of money, she put it all out there. Did she have means to replenish it? No one knows but she thought it was important enough to dump it all in the treasury.

What makes this story great is that it cuts across socioeconomic barriers in its application. The same principle applies to the super wealthy and the poverty-stricken among us. Everyone is free to give as he so chooses, whether a dollar or their entire life savings.

Billionaire construction man R.G. Latourneau commented that “It’s not how much of my money I give to God, but how much of His money I keep for myself.” It is said that he gave 96% of his money away. Latourneau, famous for his earth-moving equipment, said this regarding money, “I shovel [money] out, and God shovels it back…but God has a bigger shovel!”

While none of us reading this have billions as Latourneau had, it doesn’t exempt us from giving as God directs. He may direct you to empty your bank account or He may ask you to give less. On the whole, we probably should give more to further the Gospel around the world if God so leads.

“You can’t outgive God” and “Give ’til it hurts” while both probably true, it’s not what we should base our giving on. Being directed by the Holy Spirit each time we open our wallets is the best way to give, and then praying that God would multiply those funds as only He can do.