In recent months, I’ve received numerous letters like yours, because – like you – many people today are struggling financially and worry about the future. We live in difficult times, and we need to pray for our leaders (including not only our political leaders, but our business and labor leaders, as well), as they seek to find answers to these problems.

During difficult times it’s easy to focus only on ourselves and our problems – but when we do, we lose sight of others who may be facing far more serious problems than we are. Did you see the report the other day that estimated at least one billion people in the world don’t have enough to eat? What will happen to them if we shut our purses and refuse to help? Or how many millions in the world will die without ever hearing the good news of Christ’s salvation, if we refuse to support God’s work?

God wants us to be responsible with our money; the Bible says, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8). But remember: Everything we have comes from God, and He wants us to use our resources to help others also. Is this your goal?

Ask God to guide you in your giving, and to help you be generous in spite of your problems. The Bible says giving to God’s work is a privilege, and that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).