Where Grace Abounds

It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)

Today, I'm going to share something that is very personal and I've kept to myself for a while now. But I think my post will stand testament to God's amazing grace. 

You need a little background to fully understand this story. 

I work for one of the biggest companies in India and it's a very fancy job - quite elitist, I get to tell people with 20-25 years work ex that they've got it all wrong.  Having said that the pay scale doesn't exactly match up to a few of my friends who have maybe the same work ex as I. But I'm happy, and I thank God everyday for this job because my boss and colleagues are heaven sent, I get to leave work at a decent hour and nobody ever and I mean EVER stresses me out. 

After I completed a year, I received a 33% increase in salary. That figure is really really unheard of in a company such as mine. My mother has worked with the same organisation for over 30 years and even she could not believe it. So I thanked God for his grace. 

And you know how awesome our God is, He never stops giving. So even after being awarded a hike in my salary, Jesus dumped a fine contract into my lap. I was asked to sing at one of the top hotels in India. So every Saturday, I did what I love doing - making music and I got paid really well to do it. 

So there you have it, big company - decent salary, nice people and on the other side big hotel, favourite hobby and extra money. I didn't even have to choose, I had best of both worlds quite comfortably.

Suddenly one day I thought to myself, "Jesus has given me so much and what do I do? I need to tithe more" So when the offering box came around. I pulled out whatever I had in my wallet, I don't even remember how much it was, but I felt it pinch. I gave with the intention that a) God's given me so much and I need to give it back b) Its in giving that I will receive 

Point B seemed to be the problem. I was expecting God to throw more money into my lap. 2% of me was giving to selfishly receive. But God sees that 2% also, nothing goes unnoticed. 

The very next morning I get a text from the band contract manager saying that the hotel wanted to experiment with someone new (Read someone who will shed more clothes and please the audience) So obviously I lost the contract. And boom! I started to get upset with God. After tithing all that I had in my wallet why would God take away this contract? It was easy money and I loved to sing there. 

That's when this word came to me "It is more blessed to give THAN to receive" (Acts 20:35)

I realised how stupid I was to be upset with God. And God? What did he do? Grace Grace Grace! Grace that I didn't deserve. 

I got another raise in less than 6 months. And I started getting gigs at a better place. 

Felt so underserved but Our God is beyond the realms of anything we can fathom.