Can You Give Too Much?

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:26

Here is something you don't see every day; a servant dedicated to teaching God's financial principles asking if it is possible to give too much. Asking if it is wrong to have a heart that enjoys sharing all that he has and then some.

However, I believe that the enemy can use all things to achieve his purposes of wreaking havoc in our lives, including the gifts and talents given to us by God. He can use and manipulate our own fleshly desires to aid and help others to bring us down where he wants us -- disobeying God's will.

During the recent tragedies that our country has experienced with hurricanes, as well as disasters overseas, I've witnessed many people give sacrificially in abundance, which is very commendable and a blessing. However, I have also seen people give out of what they didn't have: people putting donations on credit cards without having a means to repay, couples forsaking their mortgage payments so that they could provide for others, families that are barely surviving themselves going into debt so that they could be the benefactor of someone else.

I see these things and I have to wonder, "Are these people doing God's will?" Yes, we are called to give out of our abundance even though we may be going through a trial ourselves (2 Corinthians 8:1-2), however, we are also commanded not to go into debt (Proverbs 22:7, Romans 13:8).

I believe that if you need to go into debt in order to give more than a tithe, than you are going outside of God's will. God wants us to give cheerfully out of our abundance (2 Corinthians 9:7), not out of what we don't have. God has a plan for each one of us; some are called to be givers, some are called to be teachers or prophets. By going further into debt you are not allowing yourself to be used by God to His extent and are not able to receive all of His blessings.

If you find yourself continually in debt than you have an issue with the sin of coveting that needs to be dealt with. Keep in mind that we can covet more than just possessions. We can also covet the desires of our heart and the enemy can use those desires against us. Sometimes our pride, envy, or vanity will prompt us to keep on giving past the point where we are able to.