The International Aid Example

In the Old Testament, God took no pleasure with the Israelites for offering blemished lambs as their offerings and today we offer the leftover items in our house when the opportunity presents itself to give. I recently visited Global Aid Network, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, and while being pleased with their operation, was also surprised by what I saw there. In the very front of the warehouse are bins for clothes and shoes individuals gave to be sent to people who are in need worldwide. I looked in the bin and saw shoes that were worn through the sole and into the thin lining inside the shoe. I looked into another bin and saw a shirt that had multiple grease marks and a tear around the armpit. Originally I was shocked that GAIN would deliver these clothes and before I could even bring up the question the guide told me that over half of what is donated has to be thrown out because it is not worthy to send.
Why would we give these things? When I began to pull the string I became even more upset. We buy nice things for ourselves and give what we have worn out. Imagine meeting the person who received your old shoes. Could you look confidently and feel proud of yourself when they try to put on your leftovers? Now turn the table and you will see why it means so much that God gave us His precious son and maybe more so why he would get so upset when the sacrifices the Israelites performed that were a foreshadowing of The Sacrifice to come were of their second best.

Grace and Giving

Now consider the greater context of giving again with Jesus’ own voluntary death as a precursor. Why do we give? Because we are commanded to give as Jesus gave and so by giving become like Him. Giving in light of Jesus’ gift is the natural response; in fact worship, of what God has done for us.
Those who see giving as one of many in a list of to-dos for believers are missing the point. Just like those who think that by giving they are earning favor with God, they are operating out of a paradigm contrary to the gospel. This is the gospel: that in spite of our alienation and struggle against God, He, in His great love, sent His son to rescue us from being alien from Him and adopted us as His children so that those who are His children and even those who are not will know of how wonderful He is. This is the gift of God and the status we receive is permanent. Unchanging even in the light of all the things we can muster to do for God, like giving or fasting or any other discipline.
I believe that when we understand the gospel and recognize that we are giving back to God just what he has already given to us, we can joyfully and freely give expecting God to do wonderful things in concert with His character.

Doubt

Boy oh boy, nothing like discussing doubt. Just after I finished posting “Peace of Mind” I went to a sales meeting and heard, “It is our job to open the door just enough to allow a little daylight of doubt” in the listener’s mind. It struck me so hard I wrote it down. Who does that? Who opens the door to allow the daylight of doubt in our minds? The devil does. I almost fell out of my chair. I understand what he was meaning. The only way to get a content customer with a competitor to switch is to tell them what they are missing or how the competitor doesn’t do it as well, essentially instilling that sliver of doubt.
But it makes me think I should be reading The Screwtape Letters instead of the Bible to become the best salesman – to know when to apply the pressure and when to let up and let psychology take over.

I would love comments on this. Do you think it is wrong to put doubt in the minds of people? If so, should we not do it when we are addressing a person that believes something that is not true or in other words when the doubt may lead someone to the truth? Does doubt lead someone to the truth? I think these are interesting questions.
Finally, I want to tie this together. As in Peace of Mind, be on your guard against people sowing doubt. My suspicion is that the more we learn to doubt things in our lives the more accustomed we become to doubt everything and then we end up as cynical pessimists frankly. The devil doesn’t even need to work because we do it for him. I have often felt a talented salesman wields a sharp blade and it can easily cut the mind of the listener either positively or negatively but I would really enjoy hearing your thoughts. As a believer, our first priority is to know God and trust God. When we begin to doubt that the church will use the money we give wisely or are always thinking there is a better way than what God commanded we miss the mark of trusting God and leaving the results to God. I am not advocating a lack of discernment on the believer’s part but I do want us to recognize that we often believe the doubts the devil puts in our minds regarding the effectiveness of obedience, the Spirit of God, and depending on God. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

How Much is Enough?

The human heart is never satisfied. Every time I desire to accomplish something I can always go back and read from Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2 and comfort myself by knowing that its already been done and it doesn’t satisfy. It’s a long lesson I have learned multiple times and we all have. But when it comes to providing for our families and leaving a legacy how much is enough?
Do you ever read financial publications? You can pretty much sum up all that the human heart desires as it relates to money by looking at the advertisements. Answering to themselves whether they have enough is one of the biggest concerns for Americans and you can see all throughout the advertisements.
While most of us wish the Bible had it written in Proverbs 1 the amount above which we have too much money, it specifically does not do that. I firmly believe the reason is because it is different for everybody. This is not an excuse for the compulsive hoarder but more a recognition that God calls people uniquely and that is true regarding their giving and keeping as well.
The United States remains one of the wealthiest countries in the world and many of us live with so much luxury and so little sacrifice that we truly may not be able to identify with the sheep in Matthew 25. Are you feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, welcoming strangers or even being a neighbor to your neighbors? Many of our possessions take up untold amounts of our time and giving them can sometimes be the first step to a larger work God plans to do in our lives.
When we think about the needs of others and recognize the state in which the majority of the world lives in it naturally takes our focus off ourselves and on others. When we meet the needs of others, even at a price to ourselves, we take one more step to fulfilling God’s command to love our neighbor above ourselves. As you reflect on meeting the needs of others and honestly ask God what it means for you to be His steward I am sure He will tell you if you’re holding on to too much.

Endowments Part 1

I began my research into endowments by asking myself the question: should one give to an endowment or give directly to a cause with most of the contribution allocated to action immediately. For those unfamiliar with an endowment it is essentially a charitable entity designed to allow the income from the entity to go toward charitable causes. For example, instead of giving $25k to a university to be used for socioeconomic causes, one can contribute to the university’s endowment and allow perhaps $1k to be used for socioeconomic causes every year in perpetuity so long as the investments of the endowment continue to grow and provide for the $1k outlay.
For many reasons I have been in favor of endowments. Why not create something sustainable and leave a legacy rather than dump a lump sum on an organization? It is attractive to think that I can give $25k and allow that to provide for scholarships for more than fifty years multiplying the impact of my gift. If invested appropriately, it can have a dramatic impact particularly on those administrative needs every organization has but few people like to contribute toward. Not many mention to their spouse and celebrate that they were able to give money for the upkeep of an old building when they can have a new one named after them. It can also be very liberating to a cause that is constantly strapped for cash and having to rely on gifts every month to meet budgets. Imagine if you sat on an elder board. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you at least have the costs of warming and cooling the church covered by the interest from an endowment?
Yet, for the very same reasons I wonder about the real benefit and cost of an endowment. Particularly coming off of the past decade, can I really be sure that the returns on the investment of the endowment are going to keep up with the necessary outflows, inflation and expenses? It’s very easy for me to open the paper and read about another unfunded pension liability. The same thing can happen if the leadership of the endowment is not fiscally minded regarding the necessity to keep the endowment’s principal stable and growing.
I also see the effect that endowments have on some organizations. When the organization is dependent on monthly gifts then they are accountable to the givers. If another organization is better able to complete the mission of the first organization, shouldn’t those who give direct their giving to the new organization? An endowment could prolong the existence of the first and possibly to the detriment of the second. Leaders or followers can abandon the original mission of an organization with or without an endowment. Just think about all the organizations that started off to promote one thing and decades later promote something very different. How many grandpas would be rolling over in their graves!
For me the jury is still out. Next time I want to look at the spiritual side of the question. What are the ramifications of an endowment on a body of believers? If it isn’t right for the body is it not right for the individual? Some of these questions we will address next time. In the mean time, what are your thoughts?

The Widow

Yes, I’m referring to the two half-penny wielding woman that Jesus called attention to in Mark 12 that has since left theologians and philosophers scratching their heads. What earthly sense does it make to put all you have in the offering when you have so little to offer anyway? She contributed enough to have a laborer polish a step in the temple. Maybe she should have polished the step herself and kept her two half-pennies for a piece of bread (as an aside Jesus uses the amount of her offering to express how little it really is in Matthew 10 when he refers to the insignificance of two sparrows falling to the ground but that even that is in the Father’s will). Certainly holding on to it would have been better than giving it away. Jesus wouldn’t want you to put yourself into trouble like that, would he?
Would he?
While we do start to shift into theological territory with that last question isn’t this near the essence of many of God’s teachings about money? It is more than just a worldly item. It can point to the gaps and disconnects in our hearts. Specifically, the disconnect between what we believe and how we think and live. I believe that we should be stewards and that God is the owner but I act and think like I am the owner.
However, that is not the only challenging element in studying the passage, Jesus also mentions that the widow “put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.” Really? More than the rich men who “put in large sums?” That’s what Jesus says. Certainly she gave more in percentage than the rich men but didn’t she also then have to rely on Christ to meet her imminent physical needs? I think she gave more because of her faith.
When we evaluate offerings in our lives we often value them by their size, sacrifice, or impact. Perhaps we should be evaluating them based on our faith and obedience to God. After all, Jesus is about life, love, and knowing the Father rather than money, status, or influence.
Even after meditating on this passage and wrestling with the application I can always rest on Romans 8:28- that God will work all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I also know that when something seems really strange and a big risk that I can always ask God. First and foremost pray. Then, Lord willing, be obedient!