Sell to Give

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have…” 2 Cor. 8:16 God is so good at this!!!

Monday nights I lead a bible study for the lady student leaders for the college ministry. I have to say it is one of the highlights of my week. We are going through Judges and I LOVE it! Each week God clearly leads all of us to some very clear action to take for that week. It is so exciting to see how what God is showing each lady fits together with what He is showing everyone else. Just like Paul and Titus' desires.

About 3 weeks ago the topic of selling our possessions to give to those in need came up. Since then, God has brought this topic to my mind almost every day. Around the first time it stood out in Judges, I had some expenses related to the bible study I wrote (Beholding Him, Becoming Missional). But money made from the bible study I have decided to give to organizations that rescue girls from the sex trade. I was tempted to put bible study money toward my expenses, after all, it was related. But I didn’t want to get in a habit of doing that… so I asked God how else I could pay for these expenses. He put Acts 2:45 in my mind “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone in need.” Immediately I thought of a ring I had that I never wore and would never wear that I could get a lot of money for. I would have enough to pay off the expenses and then could give the rest away. I took the ring to get appraised and put the ring on craigslist, I had a burden for some friends of mine who are adopting and still need $5,000. How perfect! I could give money to them! 

A friend of mine had recommended reading the book Radical by David Platt (thinking it would be right up my alley… which it totally is! I love it!!). Well, I finally got around to reading it. And got to the chapter talking about, what do you know, selling possessions to give to those in need. I could not believe it! Not only has God bring that verse to my mind every day, but also reaffirmed what He was leading me to do though David Platt. 

In my times with the Lord I am reading 2 Corinthians and got to chapter 8 and 9, which talks about generous giving. I was again amazed at God’s affirming me. By this point, which was a couple days ago, I had been burdened to raise money for some other friends of mine who are adopting 3 teenage girls from Lithuania. After praying about how and asking some people on facebook, I thought it might be neat to start a Sell to Give facebook event, asking people sell things they really don’t need in order to give money away. I could give them some ideas of where to give, one being my friends who are adopting (still needing $28,000) others being Voice of the Martyrs, Women at Risk etc. Then I go to church and what does my incredible pastor talk about?! Yup, 2 Cor. 8 & 9 and Acts 2:45 and even specifically talked about selling things on craigslist to give to those in need. WOW!!! I started crying, so touched at God’s encouragement, His ability to lead and confirm and speak. Seriously… what an incredible God to make things so clear! 

I keep thinking of Shindler’s list where at the end the “guy” (sorry I am so vague… my memory and movies don’t mix) is seeing other things he could have sold for peoples lives. I want to sell, and sell big for the sake of giving to those in need b/c it results in life, and it results in displaying the glory of God. What a privilege to get to display our Kings heart!  I cant wait to see what God does. A friend of mine is doing this with me and it makes it all the more fun. Will you join us?  What can you sell to give my friend?