Another Reason We Are Not Generous

In the last few weeks we've been looking at Gospel Giving in our CHURCH BASICS series. In the two weeks before our Baptism Sunday I talked about what I think are the two main reasons that we do NOT give and why we are NOT generous: Greed and Fear.

Greed: Sees some things – probably not EVERYTHING – but some things as MINE instead of God's.

Fear: Forgets the promises of God. Promises to keep us and sustain us – to take care of ALL our NEEDS.

You've had time to mull those messages over.

Have you seen this to be true in your own life?

I also wanted to talk briefly about a little bit of push back I had from those messages. (Push back is okay - Actually it is better than okay. Push back is great! It lets me know that you are listening and wrestling with the messages)

Has anyone else been wrestling with the idea that our lack of generous Gospel giving is ultimately from fear our greed?

Remember, that was my thought, my opinion and my reflection from my reading and study - I could be wrong.

Have you found other reasons for not giving?

One that I heard last week had to do with the recipient(s) of your generosity. The comments included:

~ What if THEY (the people who need help) got themselves into the mess THEY were in, through THEIR own bad choices or outright sin? And:

~ What if THEY squander what I give them or what if THEY don't appreciate it?

While it is true that those arguments may not be directly related to greed or fear, (Again, I am able to error) they do reveal a lack of Gospel centered-ness.

The questions about THEM are answered when we replace the "Them, They and Their" with "me" and "us". And when we replace the "I" in the original questions with JESUS.

Here's what I mean:

~ Instead of, “What if THEY got themselves into the mess THEY were in, through THEIR own bad choices or outright sin?” Instead:

Look how I got MYself into the mess I am in through MY own bad choices or outright sin! Look how Jesus Christ came down and loved me despite me. Look how He saved me when I had NOTHING to offer in return except for a life full of sin and regret.

Then also, not, “What if THEY squander what I give THEM or what if THEY don't appreciate it?” Instead:

Look at how WE did squander what JESUS gave US and how WE didn't (and still sometimes DON'T) appreciate it - didn't (and still sometimes DON'T) appreciate HIM! And YET, He continues to pour grace and love and COSMIC levels of Generosity on us.

Christian, whenever we come up with an excuse or reason NOT TO GIVE with Gospel Generosity in the church or in the World then I want to filter all of those excuses through the Lens of Jesus Christ's example.

And I mean it when I say WE. I need you to encourage me to do the same thing in my life.