Have you ever been short of money when it really mattered? As a college student working on a post-graduate degree, Keith Taylor worked three jobs. When his car broke down, he had to decide: pay the rent, or repair the car? He fixed his Ford Escort and would have been evicted if it hadn’t been for a bighearted boss who handed him a gift of $525 so he could pay his landlord.
Keith now runs modestneeds.com, a Web site that helps people bridge small financial gaps. Amazingly, a whopping 70 percent of those who are helped go back to the site to donate.
Taylor’s program embodies Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it” (v.14).
Okay, so we know we’re supposed to “use [our] worldly resources to benefit others” (Luke 16:9), but I think God is more interested in our willingness than the amount of money we actually fork over. “God loves a person who gives cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:7), and He can use any amount to provide for others. Paul said, “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly” (8:12).
Giving eagerly does not always mean donating until our bank accounts are empty. Paul reminded believers, “I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves” (2 Corinthians 8:13). Rather, we’re to “give in proportion to what [we] have” (v.11).
God loves it when we’re generous with people. So here’s a challenge: Take a look at what God has given you. How much could you comfortably, willingly give away to help meet the needs of the people around you—modest or otherwise?
More:
• Deuteronomy 15:7-8
• Ecclesiastes 5:13
• Luke 6:34
Next:
Do you know anyone who might benefit from a financial gift? What’s holding you back from giving? Do you find it more difficult to give willingly, or proportionally?
garymax on September 24, 2009 at 7:58 am
Thanks for that word of encouragment Jennifer. I work for a non-profit and donations are WAY down due to the economy. It is at times like this that Christians need to dig deeper, not lesser. The true measure of our faith is not giving when we have plenty, but still giving when we have less. Even a little, faithfully given, means a lot to those who help the poor and needy. If you support or have supported a non-profit, please remain faithful. If you have not, this would be a good time to pray about where (not if) God would have you come alongside those helping others. No matter how bad it gets for “us” it is always worse for those who have less to begin with.
jennifer benson schuldt on September 24, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hmmm. It must be challenging to see so many needs and watch support drop off due to economic hardship. It’s true, as you said, even a little, faithfully given, means a lot. God is watching and he sees what we give in proportion to what we have…I’m thinking about the widow and the two small coins she donated to the temple.
taomeano on September 24, 2009 at 9:04 am
Thanks Jennifer for a very balanced way of looking at giving to needy causes You have brought some perspectives to light that will help me consider how I give. Thanks again.
mtshawaii on September 24, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Jennifer,
Excellent!
Every time I read this particular passage, I can’t help but think, “Yeah, but isn’t this socialism?”
But your illustration clearly delineates this failed economic system from a simple act of love and kindness.
If we give out of our abundance with love and not a feeling of duty, it makes all the difference in the world.
Our world would be in a much better place if those with abundance shared readily with those in need. But the only way it’s going to work is if it’s done out of love and compassion.
And as someone earlier pointed out, this is a balanced approach. If you’re not in a position to give freely, then don’t.
Great lesson today!
jennifer benson schuldt on September 24, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I liked what you said about giving out of abundance and not out of duty. My husband has taught me so much about the joy of giving. He is one of the most generous people I know and I’m not sure I ever really experienced the fun of blessing other people (little bits at at time) with financial help, until I met him. I sure needed a lesson in giving! 🙂
cksheng on September 24, 2009 at 11:43 pm
11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. (2 Cor 8:11-12, NLT)
I am also drawn to the word “finish”, or in some translation “to complete”. It is often easy to start something, to promise something, but to complete, needs perseverance. And that’s when we need to depend on the Lord, rather than on ourselves. We need to go to Him daily. I find it impossible to live the Christian life on my own strength.
In verse 12, “give according to what you have…”, in other words, if we have not first received from Him. The giving of course, could means more than just financial giving. It could also means giving of our time, our talent, our attention. Have I first received from Him?