9-23-07
GIVING
Psalm 24:1-2 “ The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it- the world and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it on the waters.”
The psalmist states an overriding, all encompassing truth that is very easy to forget or to push back from the forefront of our everyday lives. This world belongs to God, we are simply the caretakers. Our jobs, our homes, our relationships, our talents…..everything that we have belongs to God and He has given them to us as gifts…… it is up to us to share those very gifts with the world as cheerful givers.( 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
This cheerful sharing and giving comes about when we actually feel the giving God within us and the love of Jesus Christ overflows from our hearts. Giving money and resources is certainly important as those are what make the wheels of benevolence turn and pays the bills of the local church. What might have even more impact on a hurting world is when we give of ourselves without reservations and with a cheerful heart.
The great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, related the story of a time when he was approached by a beggar on the streets of Moscow. The beggar asked for money but when Tolstoy reached in his pocket he found that he had no money with him. “Brother,” he said, “I am sorry but I have no money with me.” The beggar stepped back, straightened his sagging shoulders and with a tear in his eye said, “Sir, you have given me more than silver or gold, you have called me brother.” Tolstoy, with a compassionate and heartfelt apology gave meaning to the life of another individual…….. which might be seen as the greatest act of Christian giving that is possible for man.
Each and every one of us, if we choose, can find a way each and every day to give of ourselves. There are people that we pass on the street that would give anything they own for an acknowledgement of their existence. We meet people everywhere who hunger for a simple smile. We have endless opportunities daily to extend Christian kindness to others.
Cheerful giving of ourselves and the spiritual gifts that God pours out on us is a dynamic of Christian life that can be the ultimate act of evangelism and certainly speaks louder than any of our words could ever hope to accomplish.
Aron Smith