Thoughts on “Contribution”

(a conversation between a father and his son)

Son, this contribution thing that we do was one of the first things I remember about church. It was one of the first places I remember getting to participate. The time would come and my mom or dad would pass along a dollar or two to me from their money, sometimes just some change. I would then try my best to place it in the plate as it passed being careful not to drop it. I remember seeing all those folded checks and bills of $1, $5, and even $20’s. Later as I reached my teen years and had a job I began to take part in this weekly ritual and began to put my own money in the plate.
I didn’t really understand what all this (contribution stuff) meant till years later. In fact, I’m still learning and I learn more every year I live.

There are a couple of things I have learned about this collection: You can’t really fake it. (You can sometimes get away with faking it at singing or listening or praying or even talking to friends about God).

Second: Others can’t judge it. Oh, they might have an opinion. Others may join us in holding us accountable, but this is between you and God. Contribution is truly between God and … your heart and your soul. But its weird, we can’t avoid judging it for ourselves (Mom said, “a true judgment of ones character is when … you can’t lie to yourself”). We should really think about our contribution. It says a lot to God about us.

Third: It is our opportunity for joy (not shame) The God who created our blessings allows me to give it back, as a gift. I love giving money to my kids to see what they will do with it … to see what they value … to see where they bless with their gifts.
Jesus taught more said about riches (possessions, money, treasure; things we value, hold dear and strive for) than about any other single subject in the New Testament. He said over and over that how we value our possessions says a lot about our relationship to him. If we value our “stuff” over our relationship with God, they have become our idols. Plain and simple; if it isn’t a sacrifice … it is not a gift and it is not pleasing to God. Giving, without sacrifice, is not what we are called to!

“Ben, I’ve got a question. Sacrifice … what is that?”

He gives a simple answer, “Sacrifice is when you give up something. And it usually hurts, … at least a little.”

I continue, “How much money do you get each week for chores and allowance?” Ben answers, “$5”.

“Who gave you your talents?” His humble voice states the truth, “God did.”

“How much would you need to give each week for it to be a real sacrifice? But don’t need to answer, it’s our decision?”

So, my advice and council on this is to give till it hurts a bit, then give a little more.

The question for each of us is what exactly are we willing to sacrifice for? That newest game for Xbox, fishing pole, new outfit, a new car, new house, $6 popcorn and $5 sodas at sporting events and movies, season tickets to our favorite sporting events? More/better/newer/ STUFF.

Remember … It’s not so much about making the budget (bulletin). That’s important but inarguably secondary. Its about personal sacrifice made from a perspective of what God has given us. If we give sacrificially, the budget is met and there is money to spare. If we all gave, as God gives to us, we’d never need to worry about a budget. The elders and finance committee would have to meet extra times just to figure out where God wanted us to extend these additional blessings.
There will always be stuff we want, trips we plan, and expenses to life, but they should never interfere with what we have dedicated to God as our sacrificial return to the one who gave it all for us.

Your mom and I decided early-on in our marriage that we would set aside, first, what we would contribute. That’s what we are taught in scripture … to give our first fruits, … to give first to what we value most, …, That’s not always easy, but if you move your sacrifice to God anywhere else down the list, it says something about your priorities. If you can move giving back to God, who gave you everything … to anywhere on the list but first, … you’ll have a hard time sacrificially giving to back God at all

So remember, its not about the amount you give … its about the personal sacrifice your giving represents. For you (Ben)… your sacrifice is as pleasing (as valuable) to God as my giving … or frankly, the gift given by any person in this room, even though the amount may be different. God is as pleased with a sacrificial gift from you as he is with the biggest check in the plate (and more so if you have been more sacrificial (remember the story of the widow’s mite?)

He wants your life, (sure) and your sacrifice, just like he wants mine and just like he wants everyone’s. Heart, mind, body, soul … then the treasures will become very easy to give, sacrificially.

PRAYER
Father, Repair our hearts from the selfish, consumptive people the world leads us to be.

Restore the joy of sacrificial giving. May we open our hearts to you and let our gifts flow freely. May our joy over flow as we give.

You have given so much to us, … for us. We can never repay. But we ask that our gifts to you on this day will glorify you, because of our sacrifice, much in the way that your sacrifice saved us.