Some expect to be liberal givers to the Lord’s work when they get through their present tight squeeze. They have the cart before the horse. People of faith have learned to give during difficult times and God has honored their faith.

Samuel Chadwick wrote: “Unless a man cultivates a habit of systematic giving when he has not much to give, he will give little when he is rich.”

David instructed Solomon concerning his duty in building the temple and informed him that he had stockpiled the materials for the temple during troubled times: “Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is an abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto” (I Chronicles 22:14).

Had David deferred his giving, he might never have prepared for the building of the temple. The reason? Trouble followed him all his life. And it is likely that we will never be completely free from difficulties. If we are ever to invest in the Lord’s work, we must do so immediately.

Most of us do not have great fortunes to leave to Christian ministries after we finish this life and few have huge amounts to give now. The work of God is supported in large degree by widow’s mites that He multiplies to reach the multitudes. But we do have something in our hands. And a share of that belongs to the Lord.

Even in troubled times!