60 Seconds on Giving
I have been asked to give a 60 second exhortation tomorrow at Church for the offering. What do you say in 60 seconds on the subject of giving when you have experienced so much of God’s faithfulness in this area? How do you distill this to 60 seconds?
I have thought about this 60 seconds a lot today.
If I were to sum it up – it would be this: God’s Economy Works. The UK economy is in recession. It is official. Not since the 80s has it been this bad. America is in the toilet. So with the exception of China, the world economy is bad.
The press peddles this. The politicians argue over who is to blame, and very real people are suffering very real pain as a result of the UK economy.
As a Christian though, I am in this world, but not of it. The UK economy may be in need of some help, but God’s economy is as stable as it has ever been. Yes I am affected by the UK economy but I live according to God’s economy.
And God’s economy is based on love. The UK economy, at the moment at least, is based on fear – bucket loads of fear. If you listen to the news and politicians they will scare you silly. But God’s economy is based on love – not fear. And what does love do? It gives.
For God so loved the world that He gave…
It is a simple message. Fear stops you giving, love makes giving a cheerful experience. In a time of panic and fear – you can make yourself cheerful by giving when you base it on love. The world has retail therapy. Christians have giving therapy.
That doesn’t mean that we are not affected by what is happening. I have been greatly affected by it. And I wouldn’t advise you don’t pay your bills (telling British Gas that you are not paying for your gas because you are living according to God’s economy and not theirs will cause them to cut your gas off). Sure we are affected. But what makes us difference in these circumstances? What causes us to stand out?
If we are to be light to this world, then does this mean that we should do this so long as an economic crisis isn’t happening? Of course not.
So how do we be light to the world – by living according to God’s economy! And that is about giving.
At this time, my challenge would be that we become known for our generosity and our giving.
A friend of mine who is self employed told me earlier this week that his goal was not about getting enough money in to pay the bills, but to give a certain amount this month. He focused on giving. Do you know what? By the end of the week that friend was telling me about a contract he got this week that will give him a year’s salary in 3 months.
That’s how God’s economy works, when we give we put ourselves in a position to receive from God (and He loves to give!).
Sometimes it might not be such a quick response, but my friend knew to focus on giving.
We might not always be able to give money either, so look for other ways to give. Another friend felt he should give his coat away last year. God showed him who to give it to, and he did. He didn’t have the money to give, but he had a generous attitude that caused him to give his coat away.
The coat was a great coat that kept out the wind and rain better than most. He gave it to a person that couldn’t afford that level of protection from the elements.
This week (a year later), this guy was telling me how he had some back doors at his house that didn’t work too well. They let in the elements. Someone though has purchased for them a new set of doors.
Is there a link? The coat and the new doors both keep out the wind and the rain, so I think so – but I’ll leave it for you to make up your mind.
I have had times where I had no money to give that I have given pens, watches and stereos. I also give time (the most precious thing that I have). Generosity is not just about writing a check, but it is about giving. That can include buying groceries for your neighbour.
So to recap, God’s economy works. It is based on love, which compels us to give. Generosity is the hallmark of someone that lives in God’s economy. In this time of turbulence don’t get sucked into fear, but rather act in love – and give. For me, I want this to be my most generous year yet.
Now to get this down to 60 seconds…
