Two Kinds of Giving

Most churches have some kind of financial campaign in the fall.  From a practical standpoint, it gives the church a means of evaluating the financial resources it can expect as it plans its ministry expenses for the next year.  One of the negative notes in what seems like a very practical exercise is that it creates a profit/loss mentality and turns many church leaders into pseudo CEO's instead of spiritual leaders.  When this begins to happen, the spiritual dimension of faith on the part of the giver and the church often disappears from the equation.  

For too many of us faith is not too much of a factor as we think about our giving.  Some remember the Biblical words about tithing and the issue is settled.  Others simply give what they have always given since the first check was written.  No thinking is required.  Some have their own formulas and some decide to wait until all the bills are paid each month and give some of what is leftover.    One thing noticed about myself and the giving habits of the many I have known over the decades is that too many of us give out of our abundance.  

Jesus told a story about the giving of a poor widow and the rich people who gave alongside of her.  (Luke 21:1-4)   She was praised because she gave out of her poverty meaning her offering of two copper coins put tomorrow's provision at risk.  Those who were rich were noted by Jesus as those who gave out of their abundance meaning that when they gave they knew there would be enough left in their pockets to take care of tomorrow and the many they figured to follow.  The widow took a risk of faith as she trusted God.  The affluent ones gave more, but their giving reflected a trust in self just in case God did not provide what they figured to want or need.  If we missed the fall financial campaign of the church, the beginning of a new year provides an opportunity to look at our own giving to see if it points toward trusting in God or ourselves.