God, the Greatest Giver
The story of Brother Andrew is a story that inspires faith and a determination to serve the Lord with an undivided heart. Andrew’s life is told in great detail in his biography, God’s Smuggler. As each chapter unfolds, the reader is taken deeper into the ways in which God patiently yet aggressively worked on this man’s heart then used him to further His kingdom.
A time came in the life of Brother Andrew in which he was nearly crippled from being shot during war. He was a soldier who loved adventure, yet he found himself unable to walk any longer without pitifully hobbling along the ground. What kind of adventure could he ever get into now?
Prior to his leaving for war, he wanted everyone in his town to know that he was going. He wanted everyone to see how great of a man he had become. Among the townspeople whom he made a point to notify was a family known as the Whetstras. This was seemingly the only family in his town who were actually Christians. As Andrew left for war, he told Mr. Whetstra that he was going off on an adventure.
However, shortly after this, Andrew had to go back home. After being shot, he was medically discharged. Mr. Whetstra asked him if he finally found the adventure he had been looking for. Brother Andrew felt discouraged and embarrassed, and he had no idea what he would do now.
Sometime later, this adventurous man came to know Christ. He then heard about a school that was a little different than most schools. Rather than earning some kind of college degree, the school’s primary focus was strengthening the faith of its students. By outward appearances, some may have thought it was an odd school with an odd approach to academics.
Nevertheless, Andrew believed this is where the Lord wanted him. He sent his papers to the school for admission, but he was denied. This didn’t stop him. He traveled to the city anyway and showed up at the door in an attempt to get into the school. His efforts were received in a positive light, and after some time passed, he was accepted.
While at this school, a time came in which the instructors wanted to put the students to the test. It was time to test their faith. The lesson did not require them to open a book, read, then take a test. The lesson did not require them to write a 10-page essay on the sufficiency of Scripture. Nor was the lesson to preach a sermon and have it evaluated by your peers.
Rather, the students were told that they must depart from the school and be gone for four weeks on an evangelism expedition. As they left the school, they were placed into groups of around five people. Each group was given a 1 pound bank note. As they were away from the school, they were required to travel through Scotland using transportation, using lodging, and eating meals. All of this was to be done without asking anyone for money or expressing any kind of need during the entire trip. If that wasn’t enough, when the group returned, they were to immediately pay back the school the 1 pound that they had borrowed.
Brother Andrews’s group was not the only group that was put to this kind of test. Other groups went out at the same time, all embarking on their own adventure. However, Andrew speaks in his biography about what he believed to be one of the marks of success of his group over another’s.
When his group returned, they were not only able to pay back their 1 pound bank note, but they had over and above what they needed. God supplied richly. On the other hand, Andrew contrasts their experience with that of another group. Although put to the same test, this other group arrived back at the school in debt rather than on top.
He tells of the way that when his group received any kind of money, they would tithe on it immediately. It didn’t matter what type of financial position they were in; they would tithe. They wouldn’t wait to see if they could make ends meet; they would tithe. It was out of this lifestyle that God richly blessed them and provided for their needs.
In referencing the other group that arrived back at the school in debt, Andrew tells of the way that when they would receive money, they wouldn’t tithe immediately. Instead, they would wait to see if they would have enough to tithe out of what they received. This type of lifestyle did not bring God’s blessing. Rather, it made their trip a financial disaster.
Testing God
It is an interesting point in the Scriptures that Christians are told not to test God. However, the exception to this rule is found in the book of Malachi when the Scripture says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10). In this portion of Scripture, God desires the believer to put Him to the test.
God wants the Christian to give but not just to give for the sake of giving. God desires to show Himself faithful as the Christian steps out in faith. This verse truly came to pass in the life of Brother Andrew. As his group set out with only a little money to their names, they came back with their pockets full.
This portion of Scripture is not advocating the prosperity Gospel. It is merely saying that God will supply as the Christian trusts in Him. This trust must be evidenced through the avenue of tithing. Not everyone will tithe then get a check in the mail for double their tithe. In the context of this Scripture, there is more to it than that. The Christian doesn’t give his money to God on some kind of high interest loan with a quick turnaround time.
Rather, the Christian gives back to God what is already His in faith – and cheerfully. In this giving, God will be at work in ways the Christian does not know. Seeing money come in the mail is an obvious sort of blessing, but it is important to know that God does so much more than that when you tithe. Look at the follow-up Scripture to Malachi 3:10. Scripture says, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, And he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 3:11).
Did you catch what is being is said in that verse? God did not tell them that if they tithe, God will give them a bunch of money back. Rather, God tells them that He will be working behind the scenes in ways they would never have known apart from the revelation He just gave them. God says He will rebuke the devourer and help their crops to produce fruit at the proper time.
A modern equivalent would be like God helping someone find a job, avoiding a nail in the road so you don’t have to fix a flat, keeping a dish from breaking when it hits the floor, etc. There are so many ways that God is at work to preserve the life of a man and help him financially. He is mysteriously at work in ways we may never know, rebuking devourers and protecting crops.
Application
Trust in the Lord, and give of what you have to God. This will be the greatest investment you have ever made. You cannot out-give God. He is the greatest Giver of all.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your generosity and Your grace. Help me to give to You. Sometimes it can be hard for me to trust that everything will be okay if I give my money away. Guide me in this area and increase my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.