2009 - A Year to Give

Please read on even though I’m a pastor and I am going to talk about giving. Please don’t let the common misconception about pastors talking about giving make you think about budgets and pressure from the deacons. None of that is true for me in writing this article. Please don’t see any hidden agenda about making sure we meet budget or the fact we were behind in 08 cause you to read this article with a skeptical mind.

2009 is a year to give. Almost everyone today will tell you to hold onto what you have. It is a year to save. It is a year to cut back. It is a year to live in fear.

Please don’t hear this as a call to be irresponsible or foolish. Just be obedient. Give.

Let’s be clear, too, that giving is comprehensive. It is about money, but it is not all about money. It is about time, attention, encouragement, love. It has to do with investing in people.

Common reasons why you should give this year:

1. A whole lot of people are in need.
2. You still need to get your tax deduction for charitable contributions in 2009
3. So you don’t feel guilty.
4. The church staff won’t get paid if you don’t.

All of these have elements of truth to them, but they are not why you should give, although number 1 should stand out of the four above.

Giving is fundamental to what it means to follow Jesus Christ. There was no one who gave more than He did. He was and is the ultimate giver. And He says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) I believe, at the core of our being, we know this to be true. We’ve experienced it.

The getting and holding onto is tempting and easy but unfulfilling and does not last.

Talk to any parent. Talk to anyone who participated in the Community Christmas Program. Talk to anyone who’s served on a service project or missions trip. Look in the mirror and reflect on when you felt most blessed. Was it because you received that new flat screen tv? Was it when the stock market rallied? Was it when you chose to avoid giving to someone in need so you could have more for yourself?

How can you give some time away? How can you give some stuff away? How can you give some money away? How can you give?

The one who stores up what he has in silos and keeps it to himself dies.

The one who gives up all he has including his life lives.

Let’s see if God’s Word is true. “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10)