When people are traveling by plane, and the ride is smooth, they tend to feel over a long period of time that everything is well until there is turbulence. If turbulence goes on for a while, they will say it was not a good flight and they are able to say that because despite the turbulence the plane landed safely. As a matter of fact, the first question people ask is how your flight was. My standard answer is, “It was a great flight; the plane landed.”
Turbulence can come in our lives in the form of flood damage, wrecks, health issues, loved ones struggling with health issues, death in the family, company downsizing, a supervisor, manager, or the company president may resign and the new one is not as favorable. Now when there is turbulence, we come to God expecting immediate resolutions or protection. We forget that it is more to life than what we have achieved or the level of security all our job benefits may provide. God talks about what this means in Deuteronomy 8:11-20.
When the plane is flying, we often forget how much traffic is in the sky, how many millions of parts must work right, the pilot that needs to stay alive, and how many things can go wrong upon landing or taking off. During life, we forget that someone must regulate the air we breathe (especially with all the oil refineries we have), keep the animals and the vegetation we eat multiplying, the earth spinning in space, the temperature regulated on earth, so the seasons flow well; etc. When God instructs us to give, He is demanding respect for all He does that causes Him to own 100% of what we have. It is respect, reverence that is worship and that is why giving in the Old and New Testament is worship (Malachi 1:6-14). “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38; NIV)
We give because God gave to us. It is respect (Job 38:41). It is reverence. It is true worship.
