If you had $100 to give away, to whom would you give it? Perhaps you would choose someone you love. How about someone on the street at a corner stoplight? You could really make someone’s day if you gave it to them as a tip after a modestly priced meal. There are so many possibilities. No matter to whom you give the $100, you are certainly being generous. No one can debate that.

Let’s say you have narrowed it down to two different people. You know both of these people, and you suspect each person would be equally grateful. Does it make a difference who you give the money to in the end? What if I told you that one of the individuals just got a big raise at work, and the other person is at risk of having their water turned off because they have been late paying their bill. Does it make a difference now?

Discernment should always be an important part of any good steward’s way of life. If we give simply for the sake of giving, that may not always be the best use of our gifts. In order to gain the most fruit from the seeds we plant, we must plant wisely. All we have been given has value, and we need be good caretakers of it all. If you ever do find yourself with $100 to spare, be sure to carefully consider all the options and make the wiser choice. In the meantime, pray for wisdom and reflect on how to best use all you have been given for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

– Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS