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Loving the world: Ministry through giving
Mike Fletcher
How generous are you towards the world?
In John 3:16, we’re given the inspiration to give ourselves to the world. Since God so loved the world that he gave Christ, so we need to give the world ourselves.
Look at 2 Cor:6: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
But why? Why are we to give ourselves so generously? Check out 2Cor 9:13
“Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”
So the world will know, that’s why. So the world, seeing our love, will know of Christ.
But that is not all. According to the Apostle Paul, not only does it awaken gratitude in people's hearts, but, second, it stimulates them to pray for you. You who gave become the object of other people's prayers.
That is what Paul says in 2Cor 9:14: "And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you."
And when people pray for you, you become the beneficiary of the blessing of God in ways that you, perhaps, will never fully know until you get to glory. But heaven begins to open up and pour out blessings in ways that you could never identify or even suspect because people are praying for you.
There is a third reason we are to give ourselves to the world: It glorifies God with the thanksgivings of many. How it delights God to see his people generously respond to needs.
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Giving is godlike, and we are everywhere in Scripture reminded that we are to give because we have been given to. Therefore, we are encouraged by a passage like this to give generously, to realize we have affluence, we have additional money beyond our own needs for the very reason that we might have something to give to those who have less.
Take advantage of it. Jesus put it as beautifully and as simply as it could ever be put: "Freely you have received, freely give," (Matthew 10:8 KJV). That is God's basis and motive for encouraging our Christian giving.
It is impossible to love without giving.
At 84, Tom White has almost achieved his life's goal—to give away his entire fortune. White is a Boston businessman who has given away $75 million. When people ask him "why," he responds with "give me three reasons I shouldn't," and then proceeds to give three reasons he should: "I can't take it with me, my kids are okay, and my wife's taken care of." He'll also tell you, "I'm motivated a lot by what Jesus wants me to do…and I think he wants me to help make the world a better place."
Tom White has been on the boards of Harvard Divinity School, Boston College, the JFK Library, and the New England Patriots (his company built Foxboro Stadium).
Tom White's one regret? "I'm sorry I don't have more money to give away."
The author is the publisher of the Online Christian Shopper, which offers llifestyle evangelism resources like Christian T-Shirts, Christian clothing and Christian jewelry. |