Forget the IRS rules.
According to God’s rules, give with no expectation of reward. If you give expecting some kind of payback, it doesn’t count.
It might be helpful giving.
It might be significant giving.
It might be sacrificial giving.
But it isn’t charitable giving.
Matthew 6:2-4 (CEV)
When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
There is something I’m tempted to hoard. Money.
It’s mine, I think, and I want to keep it.
But God says, It’s mine. Let it go. Extend your hand to the needy.
Proverbs 31:20 (NIV)
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
It appears that this noble wife actually knew the poor and needy folks who received her gifts. These words imply a touch, something more personal than a check mailed off to some distant charitable foundation.
Then again, the Bible is all about relationships.
Methinks this economic wisdom from the 1600’s still applies:
“Proportion thy charity to the strength of thine estate,
lest God in anger proportion thine estate
to the weakness of thy charity.“
Francis Quarles, English poet
A certain charitable foundation is in the news. It makes me think about generosity. How do you go about your charitable giving?
I understand why very wealthy people set up foundations to decide how to best distribute their charitable giving to worthy projects. I don’t understand why people contribute to someone else’s foundation. Why give away control of your giving?
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart.
Remember Peter’s vision about the unclean animals? Animals the Lord God told him to kill and eat?
Acts 10:14 (NIV)
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied.
God asks us to do something unusual. It makes us uncomfortable. We say, “Surely not, Lord!”
Peter finally saw it God’s way. He said, “Yes, Lord.” And the gospel spread around the world.
Are you uncomfortable? Even so, just say, “Yes, Lord.“
I admit it. I whine. To God.
Me: I just want to be comfortable. Dear Jesus, is that too much to ask?
Jesus: If I expected you to be comfortable, you wouldn’t need the Comforter.
John 14:26 (ASV)
But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things.
I would rather be comfortable. But our Scriptural role models didn’t lead comfortable lives.
Jesus was nailed to a cross.
Why would I expect to be comfortable?
How do you feel about your church?
In a different congregation, a different time, people were sharing how they felt about their church. Around the table, one by one, the answer was “I’m comfortable here.”
I wasn’t comfortable there. We were newcomers among a group of people who had known each other for decades. I felt accepted as another believer. As a friend, not so much. But that wasn’t my reason.
“God didn’t call me to be comfortable,” I said. “He calls me to change.”
Are you ready to be uncomfortable for God?
