February 16, 1999
A Florida journalist wanted to find out if it was possible for a person to live on minimum wages in America. She did something unusual. She moved out of her home, put her career on hold and began looking for another job.
She soon realized that finding low-wage work is not as easy as she supposed. After searching the want ads, calling at appropriate businesses and filling out application forms, she was finally hired as a waitress in a diner. Her story is long, informative and eye-opening.
One paragraph applies to people who believe in Christ. She says the most dreaded restaurant patrons are “Visible Christians” and goes on to describe them as “. . . the ten-person table, all jolly and sanctified after Sunday day-night service, who run me mercilessly and then leave me $1 on a $92 bill. Or the guy with the crucifixion T-shirt (SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO) who complains that his baked potato is too hard and his iced tea too icy (I cheerfully fix both) and leaves no tip . . . .”
Does this mean us? Or is it shocking news? Many professing Christians are noted for continually looking for, if not expecting, bargain prices. While there is nothing wrong with being careful how we spend our money, being reputed as ‘cheap’ or stingy, calls for a change.
Of all the people in the world, we have the least excuse for being tight-fisted. God promises to supply all our needs. Certainly that means we do not have to worry that a generous tip will bankrupt His supply. But how did we get this reputation, this attitude of ingratitude?
It could be that we are stingy and greedy but it could also be a twisted spin-off of how we interpret the grace of God. Grace is God’s unconditional blessing, His free forgiveness of our sins. Grace is His lavish provision for all that we need in this life and in the next. However, grace does not mean everything else is free.
Some define grace as an acronym: God’s riches at Christ’s expense. The Bible says, “Though He was rich, He became poor for our sakes, that we might be made rich.” He not only became poor, He became dead, for our sakes . . . that we might live. Grace is free for us but it was costly for God.
Another definition of grace appeals to me. It is this: Grace is a revelation from God about Himself that somehow changes your life. The emphasis is on ‘changes your life’.
Discovering the generosity of God and living in His grace is fantastic; however, we are supposed to be “imitators of God” in every way. Since He intends a transformation from the inside out, this includes being like Him in character as well as doing the things He does.
In other words, we receive — but never hold or keep what is given for ourselves. We must share the gifts God gives, passing them along to others. We share His love, His mercy, His righteousness. We also share from the abundance of material blessings He bestows on us.
In the area of generosity, grace means being generous towards those we serve. It also means generosity towards those who serve us. We should not take God’s gifts for granted, nor should we take for granted the people He uses to bless us.
Some Christians do not have much money to spare but if we can afford a meal in a restaurant, we cannot afford to waste the grace of God associated with that meal. He allows us the privilege of being served. (Was not Christ a servant?) Do we pay it back by being rude, stingy or unthoughtful to the waiters and waitresses He brings to our table?
If this is true, shame on us. We need to re-examine our theology and our behavior.
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Monday, August 21, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
The challenge to cheerful generosity .......... Parables 545
February 11, 1997
In 1990, one statistic says ninety million humans survived the year on less than $88 dollars each. What a gigantic contrast to the annual earnings of Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corp. TIME magazine reports that in 1996, he grossed about $30 million a day.
One day of Gates’ earnings would provide 300,000 people with $100 a year. If his total annual earnings were given to those ninety million people in the $88 bracket, it would more than double their income. For those who have difficulty with big numbers, Gate’s profits for one day would provide about 660 people with a yearly wage of $45,000. His profits for one year would pay this average wage to over 243,000 people.
Many people applaud Bill Gates. To them, he is the epitome of the American dream, a rare but possible combination of brains, luck and hard work. He sets an example to those born without riches, giving them hope that becoming wealthy is possible, at least for some.
Others are angry at the distance between their frugal income and the wealth amassed by people like Gates. To them, no one should have more money than they can spend. It makes little impression on them that a few wealthy men do give some of it away, like one who, according to a recent report, donated a billion dollars to charity, keeping a paltry six billion for himself.
The distance between rich and poor is not a new thing. Old Testament king Solomon was a wealthy man. He had a yearly revenue of over 25 tons of gold, and owned a fleet of trading ships, 1400 chariots and 12,000 imported horses. His palace was covered with gold and inlaid with ivory. His drinking goblets and all household articles were gold. He had a great store of shields and weapons. Nevertheless, poverty also existed. God’s prophets were continually telling greedy people to take care of the poor among them.
The gospel writers also noted extremes of wealth and poverty during the life of Jesus. The wealthy Roman Empire ruled over many poor people, including some of the disciples. The Lord says very little about the gap. In fact, when a woman came with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on His head, He accepted this extravagance as an act of worship.
On the other hand, His disciples were indignant. The one who took care of the money blurted, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
Jesus told them to leave her alone. He explained she saved this perfume for the day of His burial, then added, “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them anytime you want, but you will not always have me.”
It needs to be clarified that Jesus was not justifying the giving of money for religious reasons to wiggle out of taking care of those who have needs. He condemned that sort of thing in another passage. Instead, His focus was to point out the woman’s generosity. She was poor but that did not stop her from giving away her precious perfume.
Judas, the disciple who spoke against her, “did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” He completely missed the point Jesus was trying to make. He was blinded to the far greater worth of the Christ by his own greed.
The Scriptures say “God loves a cheerful giver.” If needy people will always be around, maybe the rationale goes something like this: God lovingly provides opportunities for the wealthy to do good. Instead of hoarding their money, they could please Him, and a great many poor people, by becoming cheerful givers.
In 1990, one statistic says ninety million humans survived the year on less than $88 dollars each. What a gigantic contrast to the annual earnings of Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corp. TIME magazine reports that in 1996, he grossed about $30 million a day.
One day of Gates’ earnings would provide 300,000 people with $100 a year. If his total annual earnings were given to those ninety million people in the $88 bracket, it would more than double their income. For those who have difficulty with big numbers, Gate’s profits for one day would provide about 660 people with a yearly wage of $45,000. His profits for one year would pay this average wage to over 243,000 people.
Many people applaud Bill Gates. To them, he is the epitome of the American dream, a rare but possible combination of brains, luck and hard work. He sets an example to those born without riches, giving them hope that becoming wealthy is possible, at least for some.
Others are angry at the distance between their frugal income and the wealth amassed by people like Gates. To them, no one should have more money than they can spend. It makes little impression on them that a few wealthy men do give some of it away, like one who, according to a recent report, donated a billion dollars to charity, keeping a paltry six billion for himself.
The distance between rich and poor is not a new thing. Old Testament king Solomon was a wealthy man. He had a yearly revenue of over 25 tons of gold, and owned a fleet of trading ships, 1400 chariots and 12,000 imported horses. His palace was covered with gold and inlaid with ivory. His drinking goblets and all household articles were gold. He had a great store of shields and weapons. Nevertheless, poverty also existed. God’s prophets were continually telling greedy people to take care of the poor among them.
The gospel writers also noted extremes of wealth and poverty during the life of Jesus. The wealthy Roman Empire ruled over many poor people, including some of the disciples. The Lord says very little about the gap. In fact, when a woman came with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on His head, He accepted this extravagance as an act of worship.
On the other hand, His disciples were indignant. The one who took care of the money blurted, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
Jesus told them to leave her alone. He explained she saved this perfume for the day of His burial, then added, “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them anytime you want, but you will not always have me.”
It needs to be clarified that Jesus was not justifying the giving of money for religious reasons to wiggle out of taking care of those who have needs. He condemned that sort of thing in another passage. Instead, His focus was to point out the woman’s generosity. She was poor but that did not stop her from giving away her precious perfume.
Judas, the disciple who spoke against her, “did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” He completely missed the point Jesus was trying to make. He was blinded to the far greater worth of the Christ by his own greed.
The Scriptures say “God loves a cheerful giver.” If needy people will always be around, maybe the rationale goes something like this: God lovingly provides opportunities for the wealthy to do good. Instead of hoarding their money, they could please Him, and a great many poor people, by becoming cheerful givers.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Biblical Giving .................. Parables 449
November 29, 1994
The following joke appeared in a church bulletin: “I dreamed that the Lord took my Sunday contribution and multiplied it by ten and this became my weekly income. In no time, I lost my color TV and had to give up my car. My family went hungry and I couldn’t meet my house payment. What can a fellow do on $10 a week?”
As a child, I noticed when a collection plate was passed in church they put fabric on the bottom to muffle the sound of coins. Occasionally someone put in dollar bills. That seemed like a lot of money to me. How times have changed.
Today’s churches often operate with large budgets. For the most part, the money is used to send missionaries out, serve needy people in the community and maintain the educational and other ministries of the congregation. However, when giving or tithing are mentioned, the first pictures that form in some minds are large buildings, ornate decor, velvet choir robes and pastors who drive limos and live in 3500 square foot houses.
Irresponsible spending does happen but severely contrasts a biblical concept of giving. God’s purpose is not so some might wear fancy clothes and others be drained of their life earnings. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.’”
It does not matter if the money collected is called donations, offerings, or tithes (based on 10% of one’s income). What is important is that two groups are responsible for what is done with it—those who collect it and those who donate it. Paul’s request in Corinthians illustrates how it should work...
Christians in one area put aside money for others who were experiencing financial need. He planned to come and collect it but added: “Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.” Those who gave went with the gift or sent it with people they trusted.
Second, whatever money is given brings benefits both sides, the giver and the receiver. The benefit to the recipient is fairly obvious, however the giver is also blessed. Paul again writes: “Brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.... For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8).
Notice these people considered giving a privilege and even begged to do it. For them, the motivation came from God who was directing their lives. Paul said, “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, in keeping with God’s will.”
People who yield their lives to God understand the blessedness of receiving. They have received the ultimate gift. As Paul says, they “know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Anyone who receives God’s gift of everlasting life responds with generosity because they now enjoy eternal riches. Anything compared to that is small change.
The following joke appeared in a church bulletin: “I dreamed that the Lord took my Sunday contribution and multiplied it by ten and this became my weekly income. In no time, I lost my color TV and had to give up my car. My family went hungry and I couldn’t meet my house payment. What can a fellow do on $10 a week?”
As a child, I noticed when a collection plate was passed in church they put fabric on the bottom to muffle the sound of coins. Occasionally someone put in dollar bills. That seemed like a lot of money to me. How times have changed.
Today’s churches often operate with large budgets. For the most part, the money is used to send missionaries out, serve needy people in the community and maintain the educational and other ministries of the congregation. However, when giving or tithing are mentioned, the first pictures that form in some minds are large buildings, ornate decor, velvet choir robes and pastors who drive limos and live in 3500 square foot houses.
Irresponsible spending does happen but severely contrasts a biblical concept of giving. God’s purpose is not so some might wear fancy clothes and others be drained of their life earnings. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.’”
It does not matter if the money collected is called donations, offerings, or tithes (based on 10% of one’s income). What is important is that two groups are responsible for what is done with it—those who collect it and those who donate it. Paul’s request in Corinthians illustrates how it should work...
Christians in one area put aside money for others who were experiencing financial need. He planned to come and collect it but added: “Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.” Those who gave went with the gift or sent it with people they trusted.
Second, whatever money is given brings benefits both sides, the giver and the receiver. The benefit to the recipient is fairly obvious, however the giver is also blessed. Paul again writes: “Brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.... For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8).
Notice these people considered giving a privilege and even begged to do it. For them, the motivation came from God who was directing their lives. Paul said, “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, in keeping with God’s will.”
People who yield their lives to God understand the blessedness of receiving. They have received the ultimate gift. As Paul says, they “know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Anyone who receives God’s gift of everlasting life responds with generosity because they now enjoy eternal riches. Anything compared to that is small change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)