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Transforming Truths
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. — Acts 4:32-35
During a recent long plane ride with my friend and mentor, Dick Towner, I asked for his opinion about something that I couldn’t figure out. The Bible instructs us to give based on a percentage of our income (1 Corinthians 16:2, Deuteronomy 16:17); but with people losing their jobs or being forced to take pay cuts, following that guidance means that the absolute dollars flowing into churches and other ministries will decline. In fact, that’s exactly what’s happening right now. So, how are these organizations to respond? How are they to survive?
His answer, as is often the case with good mentors, was so simple that I wondered why I had spent so much time wrestling with the question. Very few people give at the level taught in the Bible. So, he explained, if those who are still employed simply gave at a full tithe most churches and other ministries would weather this economic storm just fine.
In the early church, whenever there was a need someone stepped up to meet the need. What if this happened on a corporate level, with all believers truly excelling in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7)? And what if more did so on an individual level — that as they see a brother or sister in need (1 John 3:17) they step up to help?
At a recent teaching event one man told of what he and his colleagues did at their workplace. Sales were down and layoffs seemed inevitable. But then a group of workers took matters into their own hands, deciding to reduce their own salaries in order to help keep everyone employed.
There is a sense of community at that workplace. No one was going to let a co-worker — a friend — lose his/her job when there was something they could do about it.
Is giving down in your church? Somewhere in your church there are inspiring stories of people who are being even more generous during these tough times. Find those stories and tell them regularly — even if the names of the people have to be protected.
Right now is not the time for stern lectures about the need for people to give more. It’s the time for stories of life-change that have come about because of people’s past generosity. And it’s the time to cast a vision of life-change to come through people’s ongoing, increasing generosity.
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