Nearly 40 years ago, God led me to begin a Christian financial planning firm in Atlanta.  The tagline for that company was, “Our perspective is the difference.”

One of my favorite stories about perspective comes from the Old Testament. After the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, God led them to the Promised Land.  Moses sent twelve spies into the land, and ten of them came back with weak knees and fearful hearts.  Only two of them, Joshua and Caleb, saw the people already in the Promised Land from God’s perspective and believed that He would allow the Israelites to have victory over them. 

As the rest of the spies quaked in fear, the two men with a different perspective said, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:7b – 9; NIV)  Because Joshua and Caleb saw the land as the Lord’s and the battle as the Lord’s and the victory as the Lord’s, they had great confidence in facing a formidable foe.

Money can be a formidable foe in our lives.  Concerns about debt, provision for our families, economic uncertainty, future goals, and unexpected expenses can feel to us like giants in a land we dare not enter.  (Numbers 13:33) However, I believe that generosity is the key to changing our perspective of money.  When we give to those in need, we acknowledge God’s ownership and His power and His provision.  We are able to remember that God will provide for us as He uses us as agents of provision in other people’s lives. Our perspectives change when we give generously.  We no longer fear the uncertainty of what lies ahead financially; rather, we can embrace the future with a surrendered heart.