I used to go to church in a good mood and leave in a foul mood, furious at the preacher for preaching about giving. Money, money, money, it seemed as though he was obsessed with it. Our pastor was particularly annoying about it because it was readily obvious that he was personally angry and disgusted at those who didn’t give to our church and he even implied that those who didn’t give weren’t really Christians.
He railed about it for the entire hour and by the time I got out of there I was so mad I was looking for housecats to run over on the way home, (not literally, no letters please).
When I founded Honey Lake Church and Worldwide Ministries I got my first look inside the operational side of a ministry, (including the needs, the giving, and the lack of it). While I’ve never actually looked at the offerings or charitable gifts to see who was giving (and who was not), I knew that some of those in attendance whom God had mightily blessed (“beyond the pale”) could have made all of our dreams for the ministry reality by writing one check and they would’ve never missed it.
It was obvious that they’d refused to do so in spite of knowing that it would’ve grown the ministry exponentially and many folks would’ve come to know Jesus Christ as a result of their gifts. I ended up disgusted and frustrated and . . . well angry.
Gulp!
Dang I was thinking like my former pastor and appointing myself as a judge . . . Alas those who found, organize, and manage ministries are never perfect and we must grow too. I wanted to get up in the pulpit and rail about it and chastise those whom I felt were being slack, but was able to contain myself and fortunately didn’t ever go public with my feelings. Aside from griping to a few close friends who graciously endured my rants, I’ve kept it inside and “mum” has been the word.
I thank God for that and I’m exceedingly glad that I didn’t engage in that kind of behavior. Fortunately I’ve since changed my perspective and attitude about giving, (including how I feel about those who choose not to engage in it). God has allowed me a new understanding and instead of focusing on those who have yet to understand the benefits of giving as ordained by God and refuse to do so, I stand amazed at the love and generosity of so many people in our church who give and do so abundantly.
I choose to focus on them.
The upcoming Bobby Bowden event is a good example. Our Worldwide Ministry is attempting to raise the necessary funding to pay for the construction of our website which will ultimately reach hundreds of millions of people all over the world for Christ with riveting testimonies of real people who faced real problems and found real solutions in Jesus Christ who enabled them to find peace, joy, and love in their lives in spite of the worst the world could dish out to them.
At the Bobby Bowden event we will be providing a finger licking good barbeque dinner like none other, a Gospel concert with some of the finest singers/musicians in the country, and the current winningest coach in college football history, Bobby Bowden, as the keynote speaker; and yours truly will even offer a little testimony. You can receive it all for about a hundred bucks a person which is a good value.
But the best part of all is that all of the proceeds go to the ministry and building the website.
Several Spirit filled people who would have otherwise attended this event will be out of town that weekend and cannot participate, but they went ahead and bought sponsorships and tables anyway and asked that I give away the seats to those who would like to attend but cannot afford to do so. Others are buying tables for their employees and friends, and some are matching contributions.
Shazam!
Only Christ can inspire that kind of generosity.
A local organization for abused women, Chelsea House, is the recipient of one of those tables; others are going to student athletes that need to hear Coach Bowden tell his formula for success which is founded upon a strong faith in Jesus Christ; others will go to various folks who don’t have the means to pay, but would like to do so and need to hear some encouragement. (If you know anyone who falls in that category please let me know because I have a few seats left).
As for giving, God doesn’t need our money, He says it best: “A thousand cattle on a thousand hills; every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field. Are mine; For the world is Mine, and all it contains” . . .
Hmmm . . . Everything belongs to Him including us. He holds our beating hearts in His hand and at a time of His choosing, He will allow it to stop and will reclaim all that we have accumulated on this earth. We are simply using what He has given us for a short season. My advice is to invest it wisely and build your portfolio in heaven where it will last forever and never be taken from us.
God wants our obedience in giving. For some it is very difficult to part ways with their hard earned cash and others it is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to do so.
Who am I to get between God and the giver or non-giver. It’s none of my business! Giving is between us and our Creator. I have vowed not to rail about those who will not give, and I really don’t care anymore. I choose to focus on those love stories of those cheerful givers who are reeling in their bounty of joy with every cast.
2 Cor. 9:7
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
August 27, 2013 – Click here to listen