During this period of confusion, fear and panic-buying, it has become so easy to act self-centred and greedy.
That’s why I think it’s the perfect time to learn about every Christians favourite topic…GIVING!
Hopefully, since this is online, this time you won’t feel like someone’s trying to rob you!
1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
“The love of money is the root of all evil.” Maybe it is because of this that so many, especially Christians, do not aim to be the CEO of the world’s greatest monopoly, or to flaunt the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Instead we settle. Or what do we tend to say. We are content with a less encumbering level of wealth (Yep I said encumbering. Cough… Cough…A* in English), not realising that the dangers for us, ourselves, are pretty much the same as the super-rich: the delusion that life and relationships will be enriched by wealth or that wealth will make them better people.
I remember I used to have this weirdly logical association between money and the ability to give. “I pray God will make me rich so that I can give to others.” There may not be anything intrinsically wrong in that belief, but it becomes an issue if you’re waiting to be rich before you give. Giving isn’t a responsibility left only to the rich, nor is greed a sin which lies only in the homes of the wealthy.
It seems like the most recent reality, especially with the surge of prosperous Christians, is that wealth presents some dangers and distractions.
Okay I see where you’re going with this. What, you want us to just escape materialism as a whole. Step out of the competitive world? Canary Wharf? What’s that. We don’t need the city. Even better, let’s just avoid professions as a whole and just join a commune.
Actually, I don’t know about you lot, but I don’t think that would cut it for me. And fortunately for those of you like me, who look forward to a successful career and whatever may come with it, there is a better solution than joining a commune – the “gracious act of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT).
The gracious act of giving, hmm okay, tell me more.
If you wanted the most explicit teaching on this then 2 Corinthians 8 would be your best bet. In summary (depending on how this goes, we may end up going through it) Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthian Church in regard to giving by referring to the example set by the Macedonians, who “in the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity”.
Just saying, the grace of giving held such importance to Paul that in the span of the first 9 verses, he used the Greek word 5 times (in the form of charin, charas and chariti).
Though this may be one of the more known teachings on giving, going back to the Old Testament would reveal plenty of instruction to Israel regarding this. Though, over time, we have kinda lost track of what God actually required from his people. Typically, we’ll hear something like 10 percent, which does have a Biblical foundation, but isn’t entirely accurate, at least on its own. Actually, there were multiple mandatory giving requirements in Israel which came to considerably more than 10%.
Oh no, 10 percent is already a lot. You want me to go broke giving? Is that what you want? God wouldn’t want us to give if it means we will have to suffer.
You just want us to give everything away without considering what we have to begin with.
Before anyone makes any assumptions, why don’t we just read what God asked for, you know, hear Him out…
My Sunday Skl 