Reflections on Giving
A good barometer of a healthy or unhealthy church is our use of and relationship with money. That being said, I encourage church leadership (and laity) to read Clif Christopher’s book “Rich Church, Poor Church”. Money, it appears, is not the problem.
During Lent, I think it is appropriate to include our personal relationship with money in the self-examination process. One of the perspectives that Clif Christopher provides is the distinction between having a church centered mindset versus a Christ centered mindset.
When I give to my church, I am giving to benefit me and my community of faith; and very often the building itself. This is comfortable giving. I know how the money is being used and I have some control because I have input about the church budget. Giving to Jesus turns my comfortable table upside-down. My money is cast out into the mission field where I have no control – it is driven by the Holy Spirit. In fact, I might not even always agree with how the money is being deployed. Here I have to trust in the movement of the Holy Spirit guiding church leaders.
My giving reflects where I am in my spiritual journey, and how healthy or unhealthy my relationship is with Christ and His church. There is a temptation to steer the church where I want it to go through my giving. Too often, we hear of members withholding gifts to express their dissatisfaction or to protest the actions of the church. I heard of someone who so disliked the pastor that they directed their gifts to the building fund.
During this season of Lent, I need to take time to reflect on my motivation for giving. This includes my intended bequests as well. When I make a bequest to my church, I feel comfortable directing the gift to reflect my interests. But what if I make my bequest to Jesus? Suddenly I remember that I am the servant, and that my gifts exist to serve Christ. It is unthinkable to me that I would have the audacity to tell Jesus how to use my gift.
My offering is a spiritual action. It requires prayer, even confession. There was a time when I did not want my pastor to know my giving. Now I seek my pastor’s council as I reflect how my giving is a response to God’s love and mercy for me. As I discern my giving, I find the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola helpful.“Teach me to serve as you deserve, to give and not count the cost, to fight and not heed the wounds, to labor and not seek to rest, to give of myself and not ask for a reward – except the reward of knowing that I am doing your will.”