I’m not talking about the hokey pokey.
At Christmas time it seems that good tidings are all around. We sing about them in the carols, we watch them in holiday movies, we embrace them through greeting card lines and sentimental memories.
It is the season of giving to those in need. It is the time of year we count our blessings a little more often. It is like charity is an aroma in the air like evergreen and cinnamon.
But has our giving that used to come from the heart just become a thing we do because we have leftover blessings?
It is interesting the motives people give to charities. When a natural disaster strikes we hear of the ultra rich giving a million dollars to the hurricane fund, to the flood relief, to the earthquake victims. And it seems they turn their donation into some kind of publicity and advertising for their latest album or movie.
But it’s not just the Hollywood celebrities that fall prey to the luster of their name being headlined in the newspaper for their donation.
How many schools, hospitals, libraries, churches have wings named after their donors. They will be forever remembered (or until renovations are needed) for their wallet size of possibly that one time gift.
But it even goes on in the small scale. It seems like charities broadcast their donors through ads, thanking them for their generous gift as they list everyone’s donation.
Is this what we’ve become?
A society of people using our wealth to bring a little more attention to ourselves? But we don’t pat ourselves on the back anymore. No, we expect someone else to give us the accolade and an encouraging tap.
I wonder what God thinks of the showy charity donations? Would He be wowed with the large dollar amount or would He shake His head?
And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44 ESV
We tend to applaud the big donors, but not God. God doesn’t care of the size of the donation. He cares about the meaning behind it. God can do more miracles with a penny from a widow than He will ever do from a millionaires petty cash fund. We humans think we can probably do more with the millions than a measly penny, but God doesn’t.
The creator of the universe doesn’t need our scraps that we call a treasure. He has all the treasures of the world. He has it all.
He just wants us. All of us. Not bits and pieces of our checkbook or stock portfolio. He deserves much more than what we have.
And God doesn’t want a show. He doesn’t want a flashy, look at me mentality. He wants a genuine heart that gives not to be seen by the world, but seen by only Him.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4 ESV
May we all give not because it’s Christmas, not because we have some extra money, not to be recognized, not out of guilt. May we give so we can be in communion with the One who gave it all.
God knows the blessings He has given to each one of us. He sees how we squander and waste it. He sees our bad choices and foolish mistakes. He sees our selfish ways and greedy hearts.
Yet He still loves us despite our shortcomings. He loves us so our flaws can be fixed. He loves us so our eyes can be opened. He loves us so we can become His hands and feet to someone who needs His touch.
His love doesn’t cost a thing. But when He gives so much, surely we should want to give it all back to Him. He doesn’t beg for our treasures (since He was the one who ultimately gave it to us to have) but He demonstrated His lovingly sacrifice not just in words, but in actions.
May we learn to give with a pure heart. Give in a way that our next door neighbor, our coworker, our family and friends, our God-loving pew buddy, and even our left hand doesn’t know what we are giving. Give in such a way that it pleases God and God alone.
Peace
Eric Suddoth - Dream Chaser 