Fellowship of Offering

And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, RecVer)

A new brother's family in the church in Gurugram has been going through a lot of financial difficulties. He has been working so hard to make ends meet. He even decided to send his wife and child back to his village as he felt he could no longer support them for house rent and school fees. This matter was brought to me recently. As usual, I did not react according to my emotional feeling. Nor did I want to give the poor saints an impression that by being in the church life they can get an easy money through offering. I took the matter before the Lord in prayer and felt to offer according to the Lord’s supply. I also fellowshipped with my wife and we both had the oneness to offer. Incidentally, I withdrew one my FDs and had sufficient money to offer to this family and thus it was done so through the church offering box. Later, I heard a testimony that this family's faith in the Lord has grown much by this experience and they felt very comforted by the love of God expressed through the saints. A few weeks later, their son also got admission in a school meant for the underprivileged. So, the Lord took care of their financial needs and they need not go back to their village. Since they got saved here in the church and are now enjoying the church life, they did not want to go anywhere. 

At the same time, another brother has been going through serious health issue. Though I wanted to visit him, I could not make it due to my busy schedule. Instead, I used to pray with him over the phone. When the Lord provided me sufficient money, I had the burden to offer to this family as well. Then, one Lord’s day, with three other brothers, we went to visit him and transfered the offering. 

These offerings were done at the crucial time when we also need the most for our family's overseas trip. At one time, everything I had almost ran out. I even had to write to a brother who owed us quite an amount of money for a couple of years now. Though I tried my best to not write anything about him paying back, my situation forced me to at least remind him of what he owned and checked with him when he could possibly settle it. Though he could not make it, still the Lord had His way.

Then, the Lord showed me the saving that I could make use of. Which then provided our needs and that of the others in abundance. This was a wonderful experience of fellowship in money matters. The Lord bountifully met out own needs and the needs of other saints. A joyful enjoyment of fellowship in offering. The Lord is the Source, He provides richly and timely!

And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, RecVer)