INSPIRED GIVING - Herschel H. Hobbs

This is a story that is one of Herschel Hobbs favorite illustrations.  I hope you enjoy it!

A pastor wrote the president of a seminary to inform him about a man in his church who was capable of giving the school $50,000. The president invited the man to visit the campus. After showing his guest around the campus, relating what the seminary was doing, and feeding him a sumptuous meal, the president took the man to his office to attempt to sell the man on the idea of giving a donation.



On the way they met a professor of preaching who was a personal friend of the potential donor. After a brief chat the man asked the professor what he would do if he was able to make a gift to the seminary. The professor said he would give $500,000 to endow a chair of preaching.


The president cringed, fearing the professor had ruined everything he had been trying to do. He was right! The man did not donate $50,000. Instead, he gave the seminary $500,000. He had been inspired to give.

• Q: Have you ever been inspired to give like that? 

Maybe not that amount, but inspired nonetheless!  Friend, be inspired to give back to God from all that God has given you!  Start with your local church first, then as God enables, support other Biblical, evangelical ministries!  Not just money, but give of your time too!

That's all for now, but check back for more REDD-INK!

Excuses for NOT Giving

Have you ever heard, or maybe you yourself have said, "I'll wait until I have more money before I tithe or give an offering to church."  They look at their checkbook and decide they barely have enough to live on so how could they make it through the month if they gave away 10% of what they make!

I remember Herschel Hobbs relating a story of a guy who was known for his generosity.  The man was asked how he became such a big giver.  He replied, “By tithing my first week’s salary of $2.50.” Then Hershal said, "Few people learn to tithe the much if first they have not learned to tithe the little."

Don't fool yourself.  If you are not willing to give 10% or more to God from what you  make now, it is very unlikely that you will give 10% of a larger amount later in life.  Such a person has no idea what they are forfeiting by holding on to that tenth.  Oh how blessed it is to give God the first 10%!

• How much more would you need to increase your offering to get to 10%?
• Would you pray and ask God to show you and help you learn to tithe?

That's all for now, but check back soon for more REDD-INK!

Hazardous Giving! - (2 Corinthians 9:7b)

Do you write your tithe & offering check at the same time you pay you bills?  If so, that could be hazardous to your giving!  I don't know anyone that cheerfully pays bills.  I think many of us make out our tithe & offering check at the same time we pay bills and never stop to get a Biblical perspective or allow time for our heart to change.

I had the great privilege of serving with Dr. Adrian Rogers at Bellevue Baptist Church for a number of years.  Known for so many wise quotes, one that fits today's BLOG is, "God loves a cheerful giver.  That which is not given joyfully, God neither wants nor needs."

God is pleased when we take pleasure in giving our money back to Him out of love and obedience.  When we bring 10% of our gross income back to the church as a tithe, with love for Him in our hearts, asking Him to bless and use the tithe for His Kingdom work through our local church, it BLESSES Him!  It makes sense, after all, that is the attitude God took when He gave us the greatest gift of all; Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for us all 'because of the joy that lay before Him'. (Hebrews 12:2)  Hmm, when you think about it, when we give to God with joy, we are being imitators of God.

• When is the best time for you to fill out your tithe & offering check to your church?

• What can you do each time you write that check to put a godly smile on your face?

That's all for now, check back soon for more REDD-INK!