Giving

Luke 21:1-4

1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3″I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

How do you give to the church…joyfully, cheerfully? And for what reason do you give money to the church…because you are “supposed” to, because you are “expected” to, because it is your “duty” as a member?

I watch people as the offering is taken. I don’t see cheerful faces. And I don’t see much money going in…and I see many people who give nothing. Now, I understand that I cannot possibly know how all people give. And it is none of my business anyway.

However, I would guess that most of us do not give like the widow gave. She gave out of her poverty. It seems to me, and I could be very wrong about this observation, that most of us give what is “left over” to the church. We do not put the church at the top of our list when it comes to giving money. We say that we put God first in our lives. If that is the case, then it would seem to me that the first money that would come out of our monthly or weekly checks would go to the church.

Instead, it seems to me that many of us, including me, pay all of our other bills…and if there should happen to be any money left, we give it to the church. However, that is not what we are asked to do.

The disciples in the Gospels did not appear to take along all of their possessions when Jesus said, “Follow me.” I have often wondered what happened to the families. I have a feeling that they all followed Jesus and lived in community.

It is very easy to give from abundance. Giving from poverty is difficult. But either way, we are expected to give abundantly to our church. It is too bad that we don’t. If we all gave what we could give, churches would not be in debt like we are, and that would save many people lots of headaches…and we would be doing what God wants us to do…tithe, at least.

Carol

Bible Breath: Giving well / Brings Jesus joy