Giving

This month at Center Chapel, our focus is on giving. I really think it seems like a natural progression from last months focus on prayer. Anyway, from time to time, I'll probably share some of my thoughts on giving here(as I won't be preaching during the three week series, I'll be getting us started with our Advent journey on November 27th).

As I think about giving, I often think about how it is somewhat foreign to our individualistic, consumer-driven society. We live in a culture that is focused on earning all we can and getting all we can...a nicer car, a bigger house, designer clothes, fancy vacations, $4 cups of coffee, whatever else we may desire. There are even "Christian" leaders that tell us to pursue these desires, these wants. I heard a guy say that we should do everything we can do to get what we want...because we wouldn't want something if God didn't want us to have it. That thought is weird to me, because I read Paul's words in Romans 7 that tell us how they things we want to do we don't do and the things we don't want to do, we do. So, that would tell me that maybe, just maybe not all of our desires are things God wants for us...But, that's going in another direction than giving...sort of.

If we are continually focusing on getting a higher paying job, with better benefits so we can buy a nicer house in a nicer neighborhood...then maybe we have the wrong focus. Look at these words of Christ and think about what they are trying to tell us about giving:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." (Matthew 6:19-21).

I know it sounds like I'm bashing the pursuit of comfort...and that's not all together true. I guess I'm trying to expose our motives and our focus. Is our focus on what we can give away or what we can get?

With a proper focus, we can use our earthly possessions and prosperity to further Gods Kingdom. Dallas Willard says that "possessions and prosperity can allow us to give much more away and do much more good for others and the promotion of God's purposes." So, the more we have, the more we can do. John Wesley said one should "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." I'll talk more about Wesley's comments on a later day...but they do allow us to gain the proper perspective...the more I have, the more I can do to advance God's Kingdom.

What can you give?