Giving Generously

"Prosperity hardens the heart." — William Wilberforce

This week was Commitment Sunday. That always brings up a myriad of issues for people. No one likes to talk about money in church. No one likes to talk about tithing. And I think the reason is that we don't really like to think about what God says about giving and how we live out that call.

I thought it was fitting that this week for Sunday School we were looking at chapter 5 of "Crazy Love."  It's entitled "Serving Leftovers to a Holy God." The crux of the chapter drives right at that idea of how we are called to give generously to God.

We are a wealthy nation, even if we don't realize it. Chan notes that 53 percent of the world lives on less than two dollars a day. If you make $4,000 a month, you make 1,000 times more than most people in the world. That's a striking thought. It's humbling, and it should be.

But we often don't think of ourselves as wealthy. And when you combine that with a culture that is all about what we need to buy and what we need to have, money takes root in our lives in a different way. That's what Wilberforce was talking about. And that's what Scottish minister Robert Murray M'Cheyne was talking about when he said:

"I am concerned for the poor, but more for you. I know not what Christ will say to you in the great day.... I fear there are many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians because they do not love to give. To give largely and liberally, not grudgingly at all, requires a new heart; an old heart would rather part with its life-blood than its money. Oh my friends! Enjoy your money; make the most of it; give none away; enjoy it quickly for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity."

It's a harsh statement. It's a harsh idea. But it's one we must consider. The Bible not only tells we need to be cheerful, or better yet hilarious givers, it tells us that we need to give out of our first fruits. We are to give the best of what we have to God. Remember when Cain and Abel gave their offerings to the Lord. Abel gave of his first fruits, and it pleased the Lord. Cain didn't, and his offering was rejected.

Both the chapter from Francis Chan and the message this week gave me a lot to think about. The fact they both hit me during the same period is a reminder that it's something God wants me to hear, grapple with, and act upon.

We don't like to talk about money because we don't want to examine our own giving. We don't want to think about what it means for us. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't.