Stewardship of Giving
Tough economic times impacts everyone, many of us have a desire to give, but the daily grind of making ‘ends meet’ wears down our generosity. In the end, we keep it for ourselves, just to get that little something extra. Is this how it should be? No, and most of us know that it’s not, but we excuse it based on the larger picture of our desire to take care of ourselves, our families and mundane matters.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
As children of the greater universe, we can’t let it just end there. Regardless of your particular religious views, members of our society living together ‘know’ that sharing our largess with those less fortunate is imperative. “But…but…we have so little!” I challenge you to evaluate that statement. It’s one many of us have made at one time or another as an excuse why we do not open our hearts and wallets to those in need. Do you truly have so little? Or do you have little of what you envision you should have. The family next door, or across the street will almost always have more. It is not a competition. Whoever has the most toys and biggest things is not the winner. In fact, those surrounded by largess may in fact be the biggest loser in the game of life.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
We live in a world that has been overrun with materialism, at least in the United States of America. Don’t get me wrong, there is nowhere else I would desire to live, (although the Bahamas sound good on a cold day such as today!). I just think as we have moved away from a work intensive agrarian, basic manufacturing economy and lifestyle, we have forgotten that living with less is ripe with benefits.
Do we need that latest TV? Do we need the fanciest Smartphone? Was that boat really a necessity?
Everyone likes to take advantage of the conveniences of modern living, but I think we overdo it. We have become such a consumer nation that we no longer produce the things we need to survive. If we cannot buy it, we are lost. Making do no longer means doing without what is extra and unnecessary, it means not having the up to the minute model.
The result of this consumerism is that we now live in a world eat up with stress. Our thrills and excitements have to be more robust, more exciting, more dangerous, just to get the thrill. Just as the drug addict needs a bigger dose of their drugs to get the effect, we need a bigger dose of ‘things’ or activities to get the joy. The joy should be present in our life, regardless of the toys or dangers we partake of.
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
I challenge that our ‘job’ as Christians is the stewardship of our fellow man. This is a 365 day job, not just at the holidays. Now it does get more emphasis at the holidays, since the differences between the haves and have nots, are brought into more noticeable stark relief during the season. If you stop to think about it, small movements away from consumerism from us, could and would make a huge difference in the lives of someone who has little. One less computer game the kids don’t need might well mean a warm coat or blanket for someone less fortunate. This is not a pass the buck game. The buck stops at the front door of every Christian. It is our ‘job’ to care for our brothers and sisters that are less fortunate.
This time of year, those of us with internet capability are inundated with the feel good Christmas miracle stories in our email. Granted the vast majority of these stories are apocryphal, but does it matter? If such a story shows or reminds us to give a bit more, consume a bit less and help our fellow man does it matter if it is a story written for effect or a true occurrence. I don’t think so. Too often it takes something dramatic for us to stop, look and realize what we are doing.
Don’t wait for tomorrow. Stop today, right now and evaluate how you are living your life. Are you a steward to your fellow man? Do you do enough to help them to live better lives? Do you honestly do what you should to help your fellow? If the answer is no to either question then it is time for us as Christians, or for that matter any faith or belief system, to stop and set our priorities straight. I come from a Christian background. My experience is through using the bible to guide me, but I am sure the similarities between many belief systems carry over and most, if not all, have a component that calls on us to be stewards of our fellow man.
Deu 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
