“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you— see that you excel in this act of grace also.
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
More than half of Christians do not give any money away. Americans who do give, average only about 1.9% of their income. It’s projected that we’ll spend more on our dogs and our weight loss, than our God.
I think I’d like to see us more concerned with our hearts, than our architecture. More interested in letting our lives prove our love for Jesus, than waiting for our awesome sound system and decorative fountain to do it. Does anyone take the scriptures about money seriously? Do I?
September 16th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Agreed. But to what are American Christians giving these days?
American Christians give most generously to the state. This is the single largest piece of the budget pie.
Over the decades of the past century the American Christian increased their “giving” to the state dramatically. The amount of income going to the state increase from less than 2% to over 20%.
American Christians gave the job of feeding and clothing the poor to the state. We rely on the state to be the provider, protector, and sanctuary.
Many actually give their lives for the state. Nearly everyone believes without question that this is right and honorable. Millions serve the state in administration positions.
I believe we have co-opted state and church. The flag has become our cross. The state, not the Christian church, sends out millions in aid to impoverished people. For most Christians, their country and apple pie community is now their church.
We have become Rome. And nearly everyone is quite happy to let the state be the steward of our gifts.