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What
is giving all about? Does the idea of giving
run against the grain in a consumer society?
Is it purely a financial thing? What if you
don’t have much money? How can we afford
to give? ALOVE takes a look at what it means
to give …
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?
It’s the sort of question everyone asks
each other and it’s the sort of activity
that fills us with dread. Whilst it’s
great to give presents for friends and family,
the process of trudging around over-crowded
shops to acquire them in the first place can
be a tiring experience. What on earth will
you get your dad this year (another golf jumper;
another pair of socks; a scarf?) and as for
Great Aunt June …
Whilst we know that Christmas is about so
much more, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed
by the pressure to acquire lots of stuff and
spend, spend, spend. But it doesn’t
have to be that way! It’s not about
the money. Here ALOVE explodes a few myths
and provides a few thoughts on how to look
at giving …
It’s
all God’s in the first place.
Job 41:11 says ‘Everything under heaven
belongs to me,’ and Psalm 24:1 states,
‘the earth is the Lord’s, and
everything in it, the world, and all who live
in it’. As a loving, giving and extravagant
God, he lavishes his love on us. In giving,
we recognise that we are stewards of all that
he has given us. We should therefore be free
to use the resources given by him for him.
Once we realise that it is all his, we can
cut ourselves loose from the worry!
The amount of money is
not the important part: you are!. As
Christians, we are to ‘offer [our] bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God – this is [our] spiritual act of
worship’, or to put it another way,
everything that you are and everything that
you have is to be used to the glory of God.
Whether it’s your time, your skills,
your possessions, your free time – all
are opportunities to give to others and give
to God. It doesn’t have to be money.
Giving is an attitude.
Check out the widow’s offering in Luke
21:1-4. Jesus told a story about a widow who
gave money in the temple. Even though the
woman gave very little in proportion to the
rich, in God’s eyes, she gave so much
more, as she gave all she had. There was an
attitude of giving that she displayed that
was about her submitting her resources back
to God.
Similarly, we need to see giving as an attitude.
What do we want to give and how are we looking
to bless and support others? Is there a kind
word of encouragement that we need to give
someone? A letter we can send or a lawn we
can mow? It’s not just about donations
to charity but also about how we give our
time, share our resources, build relationships.
We should give not out of obligation but because
we want to. Giving should be something that
you want to do because of the grace that is
yours in Christ (2Corinthians 8:8-9).
Protecting the poor
and fighting for justice. You cannot
read the Bible concerning giving without seeing
what it is for. Mostly when Christians give,
it is to see that the poor are protected and
justice is served. Shelters are set up and
those with power stand with those who have
none. So if you have little in your pocket
but plenty of free time, ask at church how
you can be involved practically. Can you highlight
a problem and make your friends aware of it
so that people will take notice? Or what about
getting involved in campaigns like, ‘makepovertyhistory’
and the ‘Trade Justice Movement’.
Top Tips
for Giving: |
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Get your attitude right.
Be a cheerful giver, 2Corinthians 8:8-9.
It is all his anyway, Job 41:11; Psalm
24:1. |
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Get involved, money is not enough
on its own.
Isaiah 58:6,7. |
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Think creatively about how and why
you give. |
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Give sensibly, getting into money
difficulties is not what God had in
mind. |
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If Christmas shopping does fill you
with dread –
why not buy some presents that give
something back? …
Click
here for presents that promote community
development. |
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Look
up and read:
Malachi. 3:10
Romans 12:8
Deuteronomy 16:15
Matthew 25:26-28
Good and bad stewardship
of money
Philippians 4:11
Paul is content
in every circumstance
Acts 9:36-43
Check out Tabitha,
she used her skills for God
Matthew 6:1-4
Matthew 6:21-33
Seek first the Kingdom
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Read:
Money, Sex and Power
by Richard Foster - ISBN:034041393x |
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Deep
End:
Celebration of Discipline
by Richard Foster - ISNB: 0340259922
Rich Christians
in an Age of Hunger by Ronald J.
Sider - ISBN: 0340354682
Freedom of Simplicity
by Richard Foster - ISBN:028103818x |
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Youthwork -
The Partnership ...
ALOVE,
Youthwork Magazine, Youth For Christ, Spring Harvest and
Oasis are working together to equip and resource the Church
for effective youth work and ministry. |
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