"If I want to give to God's work someday, I won't have enough for myself"
How it sounds in your head: I want to help missionaries and give to church like they talk about, but I also hear that money is tight. It feels like I'll have to choose - either take care of myself when I'm older or help God's kingdom. I can't do both.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
-- Luke 6:38Religious teaching that pits God's kingdom against personal provision, denying abundant supply
She hears stewardship sermons that emphasize sacrifice and hears adults talk about giving vs. saving as competing priorities. Scarcity thinking makes generosity feel like personal risk.
Churches in extreme poverty and affliction gave beyond their ability with abundant joy, begging Paul for the privilege of giving. Their deep poverty resulted in rich generosity because grace was upon them, not because they had surplus.
I REFUSE the lie that generosity and provision compete. IT IS WRITTEN that when I give, it's given back pressed down, shaken together, running over. My Father doesn't ask me to choose between His kingdom and my needs. IT IS WRITTEN that I am blessed with the BARAK blessing through Christ, and that blessing produced such abundance that Abraham could give generously and rescue whole cities. I give from my Father's supply, not my own, and He causes both to increase. I am a branch abiding in the vine - generosity is fruit, not sacrifice.
Your Father is already running toward you with such abundance that you'll give joyfully and still have more than enough. He's not asking you to choose - He's inviting you to watch Him multiply everything you release, just like the little boy's lunch fed thousands with baskets left over.