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We all know we should give, but sometimes it is easy to forget some of the reasons for giving. While there are hundreds of reasons to give, these six provide a good starting point.
1. We were designed to give
You could use a pencil to dig a hole, but it will not be very efficient. The pencil was not designed for digging. However, a shovel is designed with that purpose in mind and will produce much better results than a pencil.
Since God is the ultimate giver and we are designed in His likeness and image, we function at our best when we are giving. Most of the world spends it’s energy trying to hoard all they can which is like digging a hole with a pencil. When we give, we are functioning in the manner with which we were created, and therefore produce much better results.
2. As a response to God’s generosity
We all know the verse… “For God so loved the world that He GAVE…” (John 3:16). We have received the greatest gift that anyone could possibly be given. We should be overflowing with gratitude and thanks. Of course we will never be able to pay Him back, but shouldn’t we spend our lives trying anyway?
3. To remind ourselves that He is our source
When we look at our employer or our paycheck as our source, things can be very scary. But understanding that God is our unfailing supply of all our needs is very reassuring, no matter what the economy is doing. Giving is just another way we can remind ourselves of this.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19).
4. To help achieve economic justice
Why are there parts of the world with people starving, while most of us have never missed a meal? There is more than enough money in the world that no one would ever have to go hungry, but it is just not evenly dispersed.
“Our desire . . . is that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need” (2 Cor 8:13-14).
5. To break the hold of money
One of the best reasons for giving is that by giving we break the hold that money might otherwise have on us. The Bible makes it clear that if we are going to follow God, we can’t have our minds occupied with money. Every sober day for an alcoholic proves his liberty from alcohol a bit more. So it goes with giving. The more we give, the more it proves that money doesn’t have control over us.
6. To experience the blessing of giving
Jesus himself said, “it is more blessed to give than receive.” He wasn’t just uttering meaningless religious words. He understood the joy of giving. He gave up his life and endured inexpressible pain because he understood the joy of giving. The Bible says that He did if for the joy set before Him. He knew that one day He would see you and I being saved from Hell and He would say, “it was all worth it.”
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Larry Stewart’s Secret Santa World
Thanks to a reader I found out about a group of Secret Santa’s that anonymously pass out $100 bills to random people during the Christmas season. The group was founded by Larry Stewart who anonymously passed out over a $1 million over 26 years. The Secret Santa organization has continued even after Larry passed away 2 years ago.
According to an article I read about the organization…
“It’s not about the man, it’s not about the money, it’s about the message,” the Kansas City Santa said. “Anyone can be a secret Santa with a kind word, gesture, a helping hand.”
He said the money is given without judgment, but on the condition that the receiver pass along a kindness to someone else. Stewart began his holiday tradition at a restaurant in December 1979, after he had just been fired. He gave a waitress $20 and told her to keep the change and was struck by her gratitude.
The article went on to talk a bit about some of the recipients…
Cynthia Brown, 40, was laid off three weeks ago from her food service job. Santa found her at the St. Louis County health clinic and gave her $100, exactly what she had asked to borrow from her mother a night ago to buy food.
“I have three daughters, and I can’t get unemployment yet. I was down in food,” she said.
Leotta Burbank, 50, of West Frankfurt, Ill., was at a thrift store Friday to buy decorations for her sister-in-law’s room at a St. Louis hospice, where she is dying of pancreatic cancer. When Santa gave her money, Burbank collapsed into his arms and wouldn’t stop hugging him.
“God provides,” she said. “This is real emotional for me.”
Secret Santa World is seeking to expand to every state, but so far there are only 9 members in a few select cities. If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved, I encourage you to check out their website – SecretSantaWorld.net
Technorati Tags: Secret Santas, Larry Stewart
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Stewardship is something that I hear a lot of talk about, but not a lot of understanding. I truly believe that understanding what stewardship is and how it applies to our lives will change the way we make decisions each day. If we really understand what it means to be good stewards we will begin to not only see our lives change, but also the world around us. Like all other Biblical principles, tremendous benefit is gained by following them.
The definition
Lets look at the actual definition of stewardship.
Stewardship:
1: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward
2: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something ; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care <stewardship of our natural resources>
I like how it says “managing of something.” To me this implies that we have decisions to make and are responsible for that which we are stewards over. Just like a manager of business is responsible for his/her department and employees, so we are with all that has been entrusted to us.
So what are we actually stewards over?
Personally, I believe it applies to everything we have been given. Our time, our money, our God given gifts and abilities, our influence, it all comes from God. There are lots of stewardship verses that show us how we should act, but my favorite is the Parable of the Talents since it gives such a great illustration of what a good steward does. Put simply, the good stewards were the ones who took “risks” and action in order to multiply what they had been given. The bad steward was the one who out of fear decided not to take a risk and was called lazy as well.
This reminds me of another scripture…
Luke 12:48
…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
How should “stewardship living” affect our lives?
Our finances tend to be the key area that people refer to when speaking of stewardship. I think the main reason is that often money is one of the most difficult things for people to give. At least for me that used to be the case. I was okay giving my energy, time, or sharing my abilities, but money was not something that I was interested in giving away. That is probably why God had to work on me for so long to help me lose my attitude! 
One of the things that helped me was keeping focus on the fact that I came into the world with nothing and would leave with nothing. I began to look at all my possessions as merely being “on loan.” This has helped me begin to see myself more as a “steward” rather than a “possessor”.
Stewardship of a violin
I remember a friend of mine saying that he was talking to a well-known violinist about his violin. The violinist had mentioned that the violin was a couple hundred years old and worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars. The interesting point I remember from the conversation was the way the violinist viewed himself as a steward of the instrument. He knew that many great musicians had played the instrument before he was even born. He was also not naive to think that he would be the last to play the fine instrument. He understood that it was just temporarily passing through his hands.
The violinist’s outlook on his violin has really helped me get a better understanding of the role possessions should have in my life. Changing my thinking in this way has affected how I handle my money and even my weekly buying decisions. It’s not that having possessions is a good or bad thing, just that it needs to be in the proper perspective.
What are your thoughts on stewardship? What has helped you become a better steward?
Technorati Tags: Stewardship, Christian Stewardship
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