'Tis the season for giving. The Salvation Army has their red kettles outside of stores. The Marines have distributed their Toys for Tots collection boxes. Epiphany's Ministry focus for this week of Advent is the Storybook Project.
Do you have a plan for who you will to donate to this Christmas? Do you support numerous organizations or just one? What typically motivates you to give at this time of year?
There are several reasons that people give. They give to feel good. They give to help others. They give when they hear a personal story about how their donation could change a life. While these are all wonderful reasons to give, nowhere in this list is what Paul's letter to the church at Corinth addresses, as to why we should be giving.
His letter, without a doubt, is a very clear call for generous giving. Poverty is high and yet Paul's explanation doesn't go into detail of how the Corinthians can feed their neighbors or how good they will feel once they donate. Instead, Paul emphasizes one reason for why they (and we) should give. Our primary reason for giving should be for God's glory.
When we really ponder why we give, can we think of a better reason? God sent His one and only Son so that we might have eternal life with Him. Despite facing their own issues with poverty, the Macedonians were eager to give to Paul's ministry. In fact, as Paul writes, they "...voluntarily gave according to their means and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints..." (vs. 3-4). They begged to share in spreading the good news of our Savior!
The Macedonians begged. To beg is: "to ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something." Earnestly is defined as: "with sincere and intense conviction." With Christmas coming, begging usually refers to wanting to get or to receive something as a gift. But this is not the kind of begging done by the Macedonians.
Imagine if we, too, begged as they did...if we asked to give by humbling ourselves before whatever charitable need was on our hearts because we focused on God's grace. Can you imagine what God could do with our gifts? John Piper writes that, when we give, we "...depend on God's strength. Not more good deeds, but good deeds done in a spirit that comes from a joyful dependence on God's help. This is what glorifies God."
As you prepare for the coming of our Savior, think again about why you want to give and consider becoming a "beggar" this Christmas. With an eager and generous heart, rejoice in how God will use your gift-be it planned or given spontaneously, large or small. To God be the Glory!
