I have always been lover of books, a book worm. I still am an avid reader. At the start of our ministry, we put aside money weekly to buy books and magazines that would help us minister better or understand the Bible better. Harry Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Now I have a Kindle ebook reader loaded with hundreds of books, though I’m traditional enough to love and prefer the feel of a physical book.
However, recently I downloaded an ebook with the title “Give the first cake to Elijah” by Jo Upton (you can get the Kindle version for just 99 cents — well worth a read. I will not make this a spoiler, so enjoy the book!). It is the story of a housewife and mother who wanted to earn money to give to various ministries. I enjoyed reading about the author’s journey and her testimony to the faithfulness of God.
It was the title that aroused my interest, obviously inspired by the record of Elijah meeting the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17:8-16). When Elijah asked her for some food in the midst of a famine, she replied, “As the Lord your God lives, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a jar: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as you have said: but make me a little cake first, and bring it to me, and after make for yourself and for your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth” (verses 12-14).
Since this is Thanksgiving time for our US friends (the Canadians had their Thanksgiving Day (Jour de l’action de grâce) on the second Monday in October, and of course the British have their’s on July 4th!), the book reminded me of the need for us to not only say “thank you” to God for all His blessings but to actually give something that shows our appreciation.
This is not a new doctrine thought up by televangelists, but it is actually commanded by God to His people in Old Testament times and exhorted upon New Testament believers by the apostle Paul and others. In response to God’s care and provision in the past and in anticipation of it continuing in the future, we must develop an “attitude of gratitude.” “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Always for all things! The only direct quote from Jesus not recorded in the four gospels is found in Acts 20:35, “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Why? Because it is more productive! Vivien and I have proved that over decades.
In the natural, if someone invites us to dinner we take something with us to show our appreciation. If someone sends a gift, we write or email them to let them know we have received it and thank them for it. When we bought our current car, the dealer gave us a willow basket of gifts in appreciation for giving him our business. The “attitude of gratitude” is alive and well in our everyday world.
My teaching to you is to encourage you not only to “give thanks” but to put legs on your prayer of thanksgiving and give something physical or monetary to the work of God. Now this is absolutely not an appeal for our ministry. I would rather you give elsewhere just to prove the point! We are not dependent on you but on Him! I believe doing God’s will always attracts God’s means.
The author of Give the first cake to Elijah had just $10 she wanted to give and she asked God for guidance where or to whom to give it. Later she was able to give gifts of thousands of dollars. As I wrote in my book In the Flow of God’s Supply, you must first sow the seed and take your hands off it, then cultivate the crop with the waters of expectation and thanksgiving, and then prepare to receive and reap the harvest for God’s glory. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! — Peter Wade.
Great reminder of the wonderful blessing it is to give!