BE A FAITHFUL GIVER

Friday – June 24, 2022

Posted

“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” – Deuteronomy 16:17

In June 2017, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr signed a contract extension making him the highest paid player in NFL history. He quickly identified one of his top priorities -- tithing.

“The first thing I'll do is I'll pay my tithe like I have since I was in college getting $700 on a scholarship check,” Derek said at a press conference following the signing. “That won't change.”

Derek and the Raiders agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension that will keep him in silver and black through 2022.

“First and foremost, I'm just blessed and honored to be sitting here today,” Derek said in his opening comments at the press conference. “I dreamed of this day when I was a little kid, and it's here. I just thank God for this opportunity.”

An outspoken Christian, Derek said he was excited about the contract because he wanted to continue playing for the Raiders, and because of how he and his wife Heather would use the money.

“This money's going to help a lot of people,” he said. “I'm very thankful to have it, that it's in our hands because it's going to help people not only in this country but in a lot of countries around the world. That's what's exciting to me.”

We need to be faithful in giving to the Lord’s work. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He has given you and seek to be a cheerful giver to His work.

“God loves a cheerful giver. He who gives cheerfully gives better. The best way to show our gratitude to God and to our neighbors is to accept their gifts with joy.  Joy is a net of love in which souls can be caught. We impatiently await God's paradise, but we have in our hands the power to be in paradise right here and now.  Being happy with God means this:  to love as He loves, to help as He helps, to give as He gives, to serve as He serves.” – Mother Teresa

God’s Word: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7