As we open up our Christmas season together, I want to think about what the Bible teaches on the topic of generosity, as we recognize that God is the giver of all good gifts, and has given the best gift of all by sending His son so that we might have salvation through Him. Here is what 2nd Corinthians 9 says:
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
God has established certain economic principles, and they are predicated on the heart attitudes of love for Him and toward others, expressed in an unselfish attitude. If we recognize that He owns it all and that what we possess actually belong to Him, then that will, I believe, cause us to develop an attitude of charity with compassion. We have opportunities to share what we have with people in need, and by so doing we demonstrate the love of Christ and help them to recognize that goodness of a God who will work in their lives, as well. When you take into account that those who are homeless or otherwise down-and-out are people created in God's image, just like you and me, we can break free from pride that separates and walk in compassion that brings healing and restoration and testifies to the faithfulness of a Savior.
In 1st Timothy 6, we see a Biblical attitude toward our possessions and our overall financial state:
17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Across the country, including here in the Faith Radio broadcast area, the hearts and hands of people were opened to those less fortunate during the Thanksgiving weekend. From the Salvation Army to a variety of rescue missions and others devoted to reaching out to the homeless and others who have experienced financial hardship in their lives, God's love was in action over the last few days.
During this Christmas season of giving, we hopefully will be involved in opportunities to serve. Today, the Montgomery Baptist Association is collecting new and unwrapped toys to place on sale to hundreds of needy families who are not in a financial position to provide quality Christmas gifts to their kids. This is just one of many ways in which Christian people can serve and demonstrate Christ's love.
I came across some survey results published at the DSNews.com website in September of 2011, which said that one in three Americans would be unable to make their mortgage or rent payment beyond one month if they lost their job. And, despite being more affluent, the poll found that even those with higher annual household incomes indicate they are not guaranteed to make their next housing payment if they lost their source of income. Ten percent of survey respondents earning $100K or more a year say they would immediately miss a payment.
The survey was conducted on behalf of a financial consortium comprised of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Financial Planning Association, Foundation for Financial Planning, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said if they were handed a pink slip, they would not be able to continue to make their mortgage or rent payment longer than five months.
There are people who we could consider to be or have been successful who were actually homeless at one time in their lives. Buzzfeed published a list earlier this year of 13 such celebrities. They include: Halle Berry, who ran out of money while pursuing acting roles in New York. In 1989 she lived briefly in a homeless shelter before her luck changed and she landed a spot on an ABC drama. Going back in time - significantly - Ben Franklin ran away from home in Boston at age 17. He took a boat to New York City, and then walked all the way to Philadelphia. Once there he lived on the streets until he was taken in by his future wife’s family. When legendary actor Cary Grant was 10, he was abandoned after his father placed his mother in a mental institution and then he took off. Cary spent time on the streets in Southampton, England, working the docks and sleeping in alleys when there wasn’t enough money to rent a cot in a boarding house.
Others on the list included Jim Carrey, David Letterman, Tyler Perry, Kelly Clarkson, and even Colonel Sanders.
So, there are a number of takeaways from these stories. For one thing, as I mentioned earlier, those who have and those who do not are really not that different. And, that is why we should be sensitive to the needs of those who are struggling economically. When you consider that a third of Americans just over 2 years ago were one paycheck away from not making a mortgage or rent payment, it shows that we could be closer to a challenging financial time than we might think. If you really think about it, we should be grateful to the Lord for what we possess, and realize that He is the source for our financial well-being.
And, as our celebrity examples teach us, there is hope for a way out of homelessness. That's where the body of Christ can make a significant impact, as well. Not only can we provide those temporary basic needs, such as food and clothing, but we can perhaps help to change a mind or a mindset - if we come along side people who are struggling and help them to develop marketable skills, they can become more productive, and in the process, we might just have an opportunity to make a spiritual connection.
There are also several practical financial principles. You can hear or read a number of financial experts talk about them - one is that you should bring to the Lord your firstfruits - this is also called the tithe. If your heart is devoted to giving, then there is a Biblical principle of sowing and reaping, and we can rejoice in God's blessing as we desire to give to His work. Another solid principle is to save - and that is difficult when someone is in debt; you'll hear it taught that we can take the necessary steps to get out of debt and strive to save, so that we have financial resources set aside in the case of a job loss or a major expense. God's word gives us the key to living - and giving - generously and practically.
No comments:
Post a Comment