GIVING

James Carter used to tell the story of a man who wrote a pastor. “Giving, giving, giving! That’s all you preachers talk about.” The pastor responded, “thanks for the best definition of Christianity I’ve ever heard.”

You see, Christianity is about giving: God so loved the world that he gave…So we too are called to give.

Paul was regularly taking up an offering, but not for himself nor for his ministry. He took up the offering among the Gentile churches for the persecuted Christians back in Jerusalem and Judea. In so doing, he hoped also to bind the two peoples, Gentile and Jew into one. In 2 Corinthians 8-9 he is talking about that offering and also laying down some general principles about Christian giving.

In November of every other year in my pastorates I dedicated most of the month to stewardship. My first sermon was always on stewardship of life. In it I said, “If you want to get mad at me, get mad today, not when I talk about tithing and money. Because today I am saying everything we have belongs to God and is subject to his guidance.” Paul says this.

As he encourages the Corinthian church to prepare their offering, he holds up the Macedonian church as an example. In so doing he comments they did it not as he expected, but first gave themselves to the Lord and only THEN to his offering.

Surprisingly in 9:6, Paul says whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously! Does he mean that if you give a lot, God will bless you with more money? Frankly some believe that. I’ve heard many testimonies from people who felt unable to tithe, but tithed anyway, and at least half of them have said their income increased.

God may in fact do that, but that’s not the main meaning in my opinion. Remember the first principle is giving yourself  to the Lord. Second remember at the beginning of the letter, Paul says God gives us mercy that we may have enough mercy to share with others. That’s the basic Christian principle: Everything God gives us is meant to flow through us to help others as well as ourselves.

We do trust God to take care of us. That’s basic. But we must also trust His generosity to share with others what He has given us!

Also, remember the principle applies to other things besides money. Our talents become spiritual gifts when we dedicate and use them in the service of the Lord. Our time becomes holy when we spend it in His service.

Thus God promises us spiritual blessings in relation to how much we sew. I once knew an older lady who planted over a hundred tomato plants every year. She always had an abundance and spent time trying to give them away. What do you have to give away?

Verse 9:7 reminds us that we give according to our own decision. Even further, we are to give joyfully as one giving to God, certain He will continue to walk with you and bless you. Finally, verse 8 repeaats the idea the God will bless you so much you will be able to share His bounty in many different ways.

Giving is a fundamental Christian virtue. How well have your let the Spirit develop that gift within you?