Christian giving

Liba Hopeson *

Rongmei celebrates 100 years of Christianity at Langol, Tarung on 14 Dec 2014 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

It was a day of euphoria and excitement for a young boy as his parents bought new expensive clothes for him. Though he was thrilled and elated to see his attires, he refrained from wearing them, as he wished to keep for few days and wait for Christmas. However, he was impatient to stay silent, thus with his unbridled desire, he went around calling his friends to show to them his gorgeous and lovely dresses.

His friends were excited to see his dresses. After some time, they went to garden, and then, abruptly, his attires were stolen by a boy. Nobody noticed it. Startlingly, the boy took it to a secret place and burnt them mercilessly. It was done out of sheer jealousy. Thereafter, the parents reprimanded their son for being so cheerful and sloppy.

Like this boy who lost his authentic and attractive dresses as a result of his intense craving to show to his friends, you lose the blessing of God often because you are so interested in letting people know how much you have given and what you have given. It is a temptation for you. The more you try to refrain from uttering words, the more you want to speak out.

This is so because your heart is not right with God and you do not know the real meaning of giving. Some would used the phrase, ‘I share this for the Glory of God’, and speak much for their glory. Indeed, it’s not wrong to share our experiences for the glorification of God, but those who really speak for the glory of God don’t expound the reasons, but people simply see and understand it.

In a way, it is an act of covering one’s sin by using the name of holy God. Our fervor to use the name of God is like a thirsty soul after a tiring work under the blazing sun. It is hard to abstain, it is like a disease. The root cause is a heart bereft of purity.

When you give tithe, you don’t have to think that you are giving, but consider that God is taking what is His. For God has claimed that it belongs to Him. It is like an assignment God has given us to bring to the house of God so that we will not be lazy, but learn obedience from it. Giving apart from tithe can only be considered giving.

You should remember that if you give with a competitive mind, there is no chance of facing interview or viva, even though you got highest in the written exams. The standard of human measurement of giving is called eye-to-eye and for God it is called heart-to-heart. Many people still do not learn from the story of the widow in the Bible who put two mites and Jesus declared she gave more than all the others.

Yet, by knowing that story if you argue and say that you can give less and give little even if you can give much, you commit more sins. There has been mounting comments that there are too many organizations or groups raising money. Nowadays many people complain that there have been too many fund drives. These kinds of remarks are made after they have given in cash or kind for various purposes. They assist people by declining blessings.

It is true that people do so many things and raise funds, yet bear the loss by murmuring consciously or unconsciously. Let us be little logical here. Giving is a good thing, but it is better not to give, than to give and murmur. It’s a loss for you. The fact is that God doesn’t want you to hear your murmurings; it disturbs Him.

In fact we receive blessings when we give, but only when we give cheerfully and faithfully. But after you give, if you murmur, you speak off the blessings you are supposed to receive. So, it’s a loss for those who complain after giving. For they displease God, moreover, they miss the blessing of God. If you refuse some people as you are not in a position to give, God will understand you. Thus, it is better to refuse a person and stay calm than to take it and murmur.

Nonetheless, you would argue that people often compel you. If you are not in a position to refuse, then take it or help willingly and receive blessings. What I want to point out here is that, fund drives or seeking help will never cease, so if you cannot refuse because you are compelled, don’t let the blessings fall, and more importantly, don’t commit sin after helping someone.

Christian giving is not only giving money or things. It also includes giving our time. Giving our time is extremely significant in our lives. In this topsy-turvy world, where we we’re more caught up in the cut-throat competition and surging individualism, we seem to have less or no time for one another today.

When we give our time, we develop our friendship, and obviously, our relationship grows. Many people, though they work diligently, do not realize that they do not receive the blessings of God because, they do not give time for His people. Giving our time to people for God is similar to giving money and wealth. We should not forget that God wants us to encourage and build up one another.

Lastly, one very important aspect of Christian giving is our talents and gifts. We should always remember that a thing which belongs to somebody is not your thing. You may develop your talents, but it is through the love of God you are able. Don’t boast thinking that what you can do, others cannot do.

What you can do, I cannot do, what I can do, you cannot do, that’s my understanding of talent. Comments such as, it is very easy, he should know, why can’t she do this, why is he very weak in this, so on and so forth are often made by us. I do.

If you remember that God uses people in different ways, then the gifts and talents that you seem to be insignificant will become significant and good.

Give your money, wealth, time, gifts and talents, without expecting to receive anything back, and you will receive more and more. Then, you will be able to give more and more without expecting to receive, and you will receive more and more and more. God bless!