Countless times I can remember walking up to a retail counter as a preteen and wondering if I brought enough change to buy whatever it was, I couldn’t live without. It was embarrassing to check and recheck each pocket for what I truly believed was there. Unfortunately, the cashier wasn’t amused or helpful with my situation. Over the years, I’ve watched others, of all ages, frantically counting all the coins in their pockets and digging down deep one more time in hopes of coming up with a stray coin to make up the difference.

In 2 Kings 4:42-44 God’s Word records such an event. A faithful servant from Baal-sha-lishah brought his offering to God’s prophet Elisha. He brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha acknowledged his offering and told him to give to the people so that they may eat. Then Elisha’s attendant questioned Elisha because he knew it was not enough to feed a hundred men. Elisha assured him that not only will it feed them, but they would have some left over. Elisha also made sure he knew it was Jehovah who said this.
There are countless lessons and truths for us to gain from 3 short verses. I never cease to be amazed or surprised by our Gods generosity and blessings. In this incredible truth, God made up the difference when logic clearly dictates otherwise. Elisha knows the math does NOT add up and his attendant stated the obvious. What is beautiful, awesome, beyond, and above, is Elisha knows and is convicted to the fact of who can, and will, make up the difference!

The evil forces on this earth would have us believe we have nothing to offer God. That is a lie!! When we give whole heartedly, God can turn it into enough. Do not limit what God can do based on the “amount” you give. The amount is NOT the offering. The offering is, and will always be, the intention and purpose of your heart before your offering ever hits the plate. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 the Macedonians gave themselves first to the Lords church. From Genesis to Revelation, the entwining thread of God’s message is of the heart.

We can leave huge checks, we can buy elaborate buildings, we can profess our loyalty, our service, our “fill-in-the-blank”, but until we give ourselves first to God, we have given nothing that matters to Him. 1 Corinthians 13:3 “And if I dole out all my possessions to feed, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but do not love, I profit nothing.”

We see numerous examples in God’s Word where He made up the difference when it didn’t seem logical to man to be enough. Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:33, Matthew 16:9-10 and John 6:9 and so many more. We are blessed beyond measure. We need to understand and accept we will never give more than Jesus. We will never do enough to fill all the needs. We will never contribute an amount that will please God, unless the first contribution we offer to our Lord and Savior, is us. Think of it as writing a check only Jesus can cash.

God is not the impatient cashier who is only concerned with getting the right amount to cover your purchase. God is always willing to make up the difference for us and for others. God gives abundantly. Ephesians 3:20. What we deem as insignificant or even embarrassing to give, God makes it enough. He doesn’t even need to dig deep to make up the difference.