Giving

My husband and I enjoy entertaining where the focus is on Jesus. For us, it must connect to Him. Whether it is a worship night, a book study, a parents class, or a bible talk discussion, Jesus is at the center. Over the last 20 years, my husband has crafted some really thought-provoking discussion starters. Sometimes it has been an outlined sermonette. But most times it is a one-sentence discussion starter.

I really enjoy these times when we get together with people we call friends. These times of connecting are important because through these discussions we have learned more about each other, we hear each other’s hearts, and receive healing, understanding, and gain wisdom because we are comfortable in exposing ourselves – our hearts – to one another. As I said, it all must connect to Jesus.

Giving connects us. Think about it. When you don’t give, how do you feel? Try it and let me know. On the other hand, when you have given, how do you feel? Share your experiences in the comment box. I can tell you that I’ve been on both spectrums. But before I share my feeling on giving based on having given and not, let me share with you the insights gleaned from our most recent gathering.

February 8 was our first gathering of 2019. The discussion topic my husband engineered at literally the last hour, was on obedience vs religion; being Spirit-led vs. campaign led. After an icebreaker game and an introduction to his discussion starter, Christian shared specifically about his heart and encounters on giving to the poor, the homeless, and the people on the street who approach him for money. Through his vulnerability, he shared how one year he decided to give a gift of the 3 LJ’s: Long John Silver’s, Long John thermal underwear, and a Long John Donut to 3 people who were homeless or needy. (The 3 LJ’s stand for Living Jesus.)

I remember his excitement that year, as he carefully wrapped these items in beautiful gift wrapping paper. It was refreshing to see my husband honoring God and using a desire of creativity to do something for complete strangers, some who happened to also be begging on the cold streets of Chicago. Then he shared about a time when he saw how his heart shifted, having become jaded by scam artists pretending to be homeless. It got to the point that he held back his heart. As he shared, he got choked up and apologized for crying. Yet the pain of how his heart had become hard toward giving to those around him, was real. How is your heart toward giving to those on our streets? How about in your place of worship?

We all took turns sharing about our own experiences, some funny, some truly thought-provoking to the point that you could see the God opportunity in it. When Mama Valerie shared about an experience in a McDonald’s of a guy voicing loudly, “You don’t need two sandwiches,” she gave him one. You had to be present to catch the essence of her sharing this encounter, and to hear her recount the emotions of flesh rise up within her at how the guy came at her. Her storytelling was both comical and real. It was God revealing. She listened to the Holy Spirit, calmed herself, and gave.

One couple – Royce and Tonja – clearly have hearts that understand and put into practice what scripture says about giving. Even if a wave of doubt about giving washed over them, they shared how they talked themselves down from that line of thinking by remembering how God gave to them in their need. The word that resonated within me as they shared was ‘refreshing.’ When Tonja shared, she reminded me that we are citizens of God’s Kingdom here on earth. I think of the words Jesus spoke:

Your kingdom come, Your will be done. (Here) on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus’s words to us in Matthew 6:10

Royce shared about an experience when on the train to work, he was approached by a blind beggar. To the disgust of the female passenger he sat next to and her comments that he may not even be blind, Royce gently reminded her that you never know what a person is going through, that it is not up to us to judge whether or not he is blind, but to give because that is what God calls us to do. Plus, you never know you may be entertaining an angel of the Lord. The woman was so moved by his explanation that at the next stop, another beggar was in their space asking for money, and this time, she gave, too. This just goes to show that one person’s action in love creates a chain reaction of the same. How do you gently challenge those around you who oppose what you are doing? Even if the opposition comes from a fellow Christian?

Two from the group each shared something that prompted me to write this post so as to engage in further discussion about the word “poor.” It makes me wonder how many of us question the act of giving despite what Jesus says. It also makes me wonder what comes to mind when you think of the word “poor.” Yes, you!!

Here is a summary of their comments:

One person shared about being conflicted with giving to the homeless given the knowledge of resources he is aware of, that would help them improve their condition. Yet, sometimes their lack of receptivity causes his heart to question whether or not to give.

My brother-in-law shared about the condition “poor” being a mindset…

Steve Perkins, Pastor-Counselor (and my brother-in-law), commented that the word poor is about the mindset:

“I asked myself what did Jesus mean when He said, ‘The poor you’ll have with you always’? What was Jesus pointing to as a lack or insufficiency? Was it a lack of resources that he has to be able to provide for the people? I don’t believe so. I think we have enough resources to completely eradicate poverty. I know it may be difficult to comprehend but I believe it to be true. There are two main reasons in my opinion that we’ll have the poor with us always: #1 The lack of gracious people in the world. We live in a society where you have the haves and the have-nots. One man is wealthy and another man is homeless. The wealthy man isn’t gracious because he believes in the merit system. (That’s another topic.) But #2 reason is what we’re talking about with the mindset. Jesus knew and understood the mindset of people. Unfortunately, no matter how much money, opportunity, and resources there are in the world, there will still be someone in poverty. Now there is a myriad of reasons that we can personally discuss as to why or what leads to it, but, it leads to their thinking. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Do you know there are certain people who can’t even dream big?? Now, if you gave them the freedom to imagine their perfect case scenario, they would still limit themselves in a time where there are no limitations. This is why it’s important to develop and possess the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in me, which was also in Christ Jesus. Don’t base your thoughts or thinking from where you are or your upbringing, but off of God. I have a saying…’We’re only as big as the God we serve.’

Steve, Perkins, Senior Pastor, NDGC

This discussion has only just begun. I agree that to be poor is a mindset. However, there are many contextual, psychological, and socio-economical ramifications of poverty and the disparity it causes. However, in my mind, all things have a spiritual effect and spiritual affectivity. But one thing I hang onto is this: “Don’t forget to do good to others, and share with them because such sacrifices please God,” Hebrews 13:16 (NCV)

That said, there is much more to talk about on the issue of giving. The one thing I hear though, at this moment is that giving unstucks the heart. If you are in a place of stuck, check the level of your giving. If you are in a place of complacency and you are sitting, check the level of how you are giving.

In the meantime, what has been your experiences with giving? What do you think of the word “poor”? How have you been challenged with giving? How has your heart shifted, and why?