"A picture is worth a thousand words." No doubt, we are in the midst of tough economic times. One Christian brother who has worked on Wall Street for decades, wrote this to me just yesterday:
[I] have seen many ups and downs, even a market crash in 1987, yet I'm seeing people more concerned than ever before.... Life savings in many cases have dwindled and people don't know what to do.... I believe the saints are getting caught up in worry about their finances, fear of tomorrow, concern about job losses and the like. It's time for those who call Jesus Lord to trust His Word, possibly like never before."
I couldn't agree more. The fact is, Christians are giving way to worry, and the statistics show it. Earlier this summer, the Dallas Business Journal reported, "Nearly half of Christian adults in the United States have reduced their charitable giving because of the economic downturn, according to a recent survey commissioned by Dunham & Co." The two main factors were the sharp rise in fuel and food costs, according to the survey. Forty-six percent of Christian adults surveyed indicated that they have reduced their giving to charity.
Contrast that strategy with the one employed by the impoverished Macedonian churches in Paul's day:
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonia churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
If I'm reading this correctly, it seems that the the poorer these people got, the more generous they became! How was this possible? Paul says it was "the grace that God" gave them. That was His part. And they, on their part, "gave themselves first to the Lord ... in keeping with God's will."
Now, keeping those two things in mind (God's part and their part), let's jump over to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Jesus' words require no amplification. They are crystal clear. The core issue is what matters most to us: God or money. If money matters most to us, we will live to make more of it ... we will worry when we don't have it ... we will derive our sense of security from it.
But if we value God more than money, we will adopt the mindset of the Macedonians. Having given ourselves first to the Lord, we will trust Him to provide for all our needs. This frees us to give above and beyond our own ability. Why? Because God gives His grace to those who give themselves to Him. People of faith trust God with their finances. They trust God with their future. And they prove this by their generous giving to the Lord's work.
Look again at what my Christian brother wrote: "It's time for those who call Jesus Lord to trust His Word, possibly like never before." Could it be that this economic crisis is a gift of God to His church? Could it be that this is a God-given opportunity to step out in faith and trust His Word like never before?
The natural tendency in all of us is to put giving off until we feel able to give. Such thinking keeps many from ever giving ... and from ever experiencing the power and provision of God. I encourage you to step out in faith by going before God and asking Him what He would have you to give on a consistent basis and with a joyful heart. I guarantee you that it will be more than you think you can afford. But that's where our faith meets God's grace. The result? An abundance of joy and liberality (2 Cor. 8:1).
I write this as the pastor of your church - Christ's church, really - "not because I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" (Phil. 4:17).