Monday, August 31, 2009

giving

this has been a blog in the making for several months. it's very simple, but for some reason, i've had a difficult time getting it down.

as Christians, we are very clearly called to be givers. i think most people hear that and automatically think, "tithe". while surely that is a part of it, it cannot end there. even assuming that a tithe is sufficient, many seem to give based off of a salary. what about gifts? do we think about receiving money and things in ways other than wages as things that need to be given back to God? When is the last time a friend took you out for lunch and paid for it? was that not a "gift" that should be given back? What did you receive at Christmas? how much money do you think it cost for the things that are GIVEN to YOU?! it is almost impossible to keep track of that kind of math. which turns the question not into how much do i HAVE (as in need) to give, but how much do i HAVE (as in how do i possibly repay all of the blessings in my life) to give. When the attitude transforms from clenching fists to try to hold onto whatever we CAN and turns into open hands returning to God whatever He asks, whatever we are giving probably feels totally insufficient.

and it doesn't end there. we are to GIVE GIVE GIVE everything we have to help our neighbors, our brothers, sisters. this can seem to be an overwhelming task, but again, when we are aware of another's need, if the attitude isn't, "well, i need to keep x amount and i don't have anything left to give" and instead the attitude is, "what can i sacrifice or go without to help this person?" i think we'd find ourselves able to give more and clutch less.

i'm sure there are a variety of excuses, and it may come down to a drastic lifestyle change to give the way we are meant to. i definitely don't give enough! it's an area i'm trying to improve on. what does it look like to not just give money, but time?! what does it look like when we take the time to love people that don't seem worthy of our love? i'm challenged regularly when i see others loving people that i don't like in a way that i wish i could. it's very humbling. there was a time when i may have said,"better them than me," or "somebody's got to do it,". but now i feel ashamed.

if we're honest, a lack of giving is selfishness and a lack of trust in God. it says that we are responsible for providing for ourselves and family and that God is not in control. it says that OUR needs are more important than OTHER peoples needs. it reeks of arrogance, which is not a stench i want lingering around me.