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 This is one of the articles which appears weekly in the bulletin. |
Why Give? - June 10 During the Divine Service on Sunday morning, the ushers receive the offering plates from the pastor, pass them through the congregation, and then return them to pastor, who quietly and prayerfully places them on the altar. It seems expected that people should put money in as the plate goes by, but why? Undoubtedly, people give for different reasons. Some give out of guilt. “Everybody will see if I don’t put any money in.” So those people quietly consider how much they have with them and how much is their share to give. Others give because they know how much is needed to meet the church budget every week. “If I don’t give my share, then I’m not doing my duty here.” Some may give because they have extra money they don’t know what to do with. Others might give to keep from spending the money on other, less worthwhile, things. There are various other reasons for which people may place money in the offering, and most people probably give with a mixture of reasons. Mark and Luke record the time that Jesus sat watching the people put money in the offering box. “And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny” (Mark 12:42). Jesus commended her before the rest of them, for “they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” He didn’t discuss the reasons she did this, but recognized her faith evidenced by her giving. It is doubtful that she knew how much was necessary to pay the temple’s bills each week. Jesus really does not say much about her motivation. But he recognizes her sacrifice. Later, Paul would write to the Philippians and describe the motivation by which we do the good things we do. “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). And John writes in his first epistle (4:19), “we love because He first loved us.” If we give of ourselves to God, it is not out of compulsion or guilt, but out of thankfulness for what He has already done. We serve not in order for God to look favorably upon us, but because He is doing the work through us! Had the widow examined the money she put into the offering, she could easily have said, “this sure won’t do much, why should I bother?” But God, working through her, put in her great riches to further the work of His kingdom. God can certainly accomplish all things without our money. But He uses us to demonstrate His love and faithfulness, and He gives us the opportunity to show our gratitude and thanks. |
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