Paul was thanking the church at Corinth on behalf of the church at Jerusalem for their financial commitment; but there is a word in verse thirteen that catches my attention. It’s that word experiment. It means “to put to the test.”
Experimental giving is putting God to the test. In Malachi 3:10a we read, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Experimental giving is putting God’s Word to the test. We serve a God Who will not fail – Who cannot fail.
A consecrated Jewish believer, Dr. Max Reich, gave this testimony: “When my wife and I were first married, we felt called to full-time Christian service. God blessed our ministry and many people accepted the Lord. Although our income was small and we had few worldly possessions, our hearts were full of joy. One day, however, my wife said, ‘Max, there’s nothing to eat for dinner!’ I didn’t reply at first but stood listening to the birds singing in the trees. Suddenly these words from a well-known Gospel song flashed through my mind: ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.’ Immediately I said, ‘If our Heavenly Father feeds the birds, surely He’ll take care of us!’ Just then a lady knocked at the door. After introducing herself she said, ‘My husband was a hopeless alcoholic. Every time he got his check he’d spend most of it to get drunk, so the children and I were often hungry. Recently he heard you preach the Gospel, and the Lord worked a miracle in his heart. Now he’s a changed man! For the first time in years he brought home a full week’s pay, and I was able to get a good supply of groceries. I thought as I was cooking, part of this food really belongs to Brother Reich. I was going to bring you some later, but I felt compelled to do it immediately. Here’s half of the chicken I fried and some biscuits fresh from the oven!’ We were so happy that we sang, ‘Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!’ To this moment the Lord has never failed to give us our daily bread.”
May I add: “He never will”?
✞ Give experimentally. God will never fail.
