This really doesn’t seem like the time to be talking about giving as we begin to feel the pinch of the ‘current economic climate’? I’m sure for those of us who are having our hours cut or looking for new jobs, thinking about why and how we give is probably the last thing on our minds. I know the prospect of going down to a 4 day week for two months in attempt to finish my thesis is causing me to be a bit tighter with my cash. And coming from East Belfast I’m already pretty tight!
But maybe the time when it seems like we have least is the very best time to be thinking about giving. As someone who has just found themselves in the thirties bracket I’m discovering some truth in the old adage that the habits you form early on set the tone for the rest of your life. And I’m doing some quick reversals! As I also thought about the global financial downturn I began to realise that everyone has less and so those who are already struggling are now in a worse position than before, and so much more in need of our generosity.
In the Old Testament God designed an economic system in which there should be no poverty. His people were to demonstrate his likeness to others (Deut 15.4). As God blessed his people with a physical place to make their home he asked them to be open-handed, to not be stingy, to live generously, and to mirror his generosity to them. Obviously the prophets show us how they screwed up big time and instead oppressed the poor. Then in Jesus, God himself steps into time demonstrating the ultimate generosity of God in setting aside his riches and becoming poor so that we could be rich. Generosity lies at the very heart of who God is. As people who are trying to follow, Jesus is an indicator of how closely we are walking with him. I guess we struggle to live generously as giving (whether cash or possessions) means we have to start relying on God. Yet it is when we begin to live generously – when we begin to live this life of trusting God that we begin to discover a freedom [and lightness (?)]
So if we are committed to helping live out God’s kingdom and seeking justice for those who are denied the opportunities we have, how much should we give? The obvious answer is that we tithe 10% of our income. But does doing so mean we can then relax? Is that really living generously? In 2 Corinthians 8.13 Paul talks about giving so there would be equality, not just some people a little less badly off. It’s not really something we hear too much in church is it? Sounds a bit Marxist? Do you think it’s possible to live generously like that?
I guess 10% is a good starting point for all of us, but not something we should be rigid about. I dream of being part of a community who live freely with their money – giving generously to those in need, giving as God’s Spirit leads, not clutching on to what we feel we deserve. Therefore, living with our trust not in ourselves but in God as the generous provider.
What about direct debits? Some argue that we should be engaged in our giving, that the joy of writing each cheque lost in direct debits means we forget about what we’re giving which simply becomes something that comes out of our bank accounts. Everyone works differently, however as someone who works for a charity it really helps us when people commit to regular direct debits as it allows us to plan for the future and know what we can spend. A wise friend of mine shared with me that he only gives to a few organisations – maybe 3 and endeavours to support them well. He can pray for them, has time to read their magazines and stay in touch with what they are doing.
What sort of difference could we make if we did commit to living more generously? How can we help each other do that? What have you found helpful? How can you begin to practice living more generously this week?
[...] I’ve just posted my contribution on giving… [...]
Some interesting points. Does God expect us to become poor for the sake of his kingdom? Where is the line…if there is one?
I don’t know if he exactly expects us to become poor for the sake of his kingdom, but Paul’s argument in 2 Corinthians is certainly that we should give so there would be less inequality. The OT also encourages us to be open-handed and not tight fisted. I think we are called to be good stewards of what God gives us, and to trust in his provision for us as we give what he entrusts us with. I don’t live that out as I should. In many ways it’s not for me to tell others how much to give. I definately think if we begin to live more generously and simply we will begin to discover there is a freedom in that..
One way I’ve heard several people living is to calculate how much they need to live on and to give everything over and above that…
See..I love the idea of that…and I once even worked out a spreadsheet to see how much this would be…but what about hobbies, books and all the things that help shape us a Christians. Should we give this up?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently – from the very outset God expected generosity from his people and was all for the redistribution of wealth (check out Leviticus and the year of Jubilee) A tenth of our income is all very well – but that works fantastically well for those with plenty and not great for those with very little – giving £100 pounds out of a £1000 still leaves a lot left over, now take a tenth of a hundred and suddenly the issues are different. Jesus wasn’t interested in how much people gave – only in what they had left – the woman with the 2 small coins for example, and what about Zacchaeus for radical kingdom economics – I can’t imagine he had much left after he returned four times what he had taken.
Still trying to work out what this means for me – but an increase in generosity beyond a tenth is a good place to start
I hope you don’t mind me joining in!! To answer the question above “does God expect us to become poor for the sake of His kingdom?” The answer to that is no, defiantly not!!!! Here is how I conclude my answer: (New King James)
Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
The key point word here is *willingly*. If you are to give over and above your tithe then it must be YOUR decision. Not out of fear, our thinking God does not want you to have money,
Psalm 35:27 tells us “Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
The definition of prosperity, according to Google, is – “to be in good health, happiness and a state of financial security. The Antonyms of the word prosperity are – failure, hardship, loss, poorness, poverty. There is now way God wants us poor, lost etc.
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And test Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts,
“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
God does not use tithe to get something from us. He is trying to get something to us. This is a powerful scripture, blessing is favour, wisdom, health, understanding, wealth everything. Never think you cant afford to tithe. YOU CANT AFFORD NOT TO TITHE.
God has streets of gold, gates of pearl. He likes nice things, nothing wrong with that at all. So I don’t think people should worry Jesus being mad that we use some of our money for hobbies, nice clothes, holidays, fancy cars etc.