This is a time in the service when everyone falls into one of three groups (funny how many times the church crowd can be divided into three groups…)
1. Let’s see what this is all about.
2. Oh, great. I knew it. The church just wants my money.
3. YES! This is when I get to team up with God!
For the first and second groups, the only things that can change their perspective are God and time. God will move. The question is, will they stay around long enough to see it? If so, they’ll eventually move to the third group. Or they won’t. But this time in the service isn’t about those first two groups. That is, I should say, it isn't for those groups...not for them to feel bad or guilty or manipulated into giving. This is a time for the third group.
For those of us who have been rescued by the grace of God, this is the time of a worship experience that we can step up and tangibly partner with God. But I think so often we do it with misdirected reasons. See, I think we hear so often that when we give we’ll be blessed (which is true, by the way), that we focus on the wrong side of that equation. We focused on the “we’ll BE blessed.” But that’s not why we should give. The truth is that we give because we ARE blessed.
In 2 Corinthians 8-9, the apostle Paul is commending the church of Corinth for their generosity, and he’s encouraging them to essentially step up their game. And he gives them a promise:
“Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:13-15
The reality is, when we give, great things will happen. But the bigger reality is, great things have already happened. THAT’S why we should give.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE…” Then in Romans we read that it wasn’t because of anything we had done. In fact, just the opposite is true. It says that “while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
We’ve already been given the greatest gift that could ever be given. Ever! For us to think that now we give so that we’ll be blessed is wrong. We give, because we HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO! It’s so great a gift, Paul tells us, that it is indescribable.
Now, I know it’s not easy. Full disclosure: I’ve failed many, many times at this. I’ve looked at my situation and thought, “There’s no way I can give right now! Look at the economy. What about the bills. Blah, blah, blah.” That’s why I am taking up God’s challenge to step up my own game in this area.
But this isn't just a test about money. God wants to see where our hearts are.
In 2 Chronicles we read the account of God telling Solomon to ask for anything in the world that he wanted. Solomon was taking over as king of the country and God said, essentially, “Ask for anything and it’s yours.”
That’s our dream, isn’t it? For God to ask us what we want? Well, most Christians are familiar with the idea that Solomon asked for wisdom. But in reality, he asked for two things: wisdom AND knowledge. Solomon knew that without one, the other isn’t really as useful. He knew that wisdom is the ability to accurately discern AND apply knowledge.
God has given us all the knowledge of Christ. If you’re reading this, you’ve been exposed to that knowledge. The question now is: Do we have the wisdom to do with that knowledge what we know we should? Do we have the wisdom to take the greatest gift there is and then turn around and give it—tangibly through resources and intangibly through relationships, time, talents, etc.—to those around us in the world who desperately need it?
Because when we do, men will praise God. Not because we are so generous. But because they recognize the reality that we are all loved by a generous God.
