Building Project

“Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.” (1Ch 29:9)

It is a joy to give gifts to those we love. This comes from knowing the beloved, observing their likes and dislikes, and contemplating the things that would make them happy. This is followed by the motivation to express one’s pleasure in the relationship in some tangible way. Often, the gift will be less about what that other person “needs” and more about the relationship itself. A good example of this is an engagement ring. No woman needs an engagement ring in the same sense in which she needs food, clothing and shelter. But an engagement ring is a visible symbol of a relationship or understanding between two people. I am a musician and music lover and have hundreds of music CDs. I do not “need” any more CDs. But a friend recently gave me a CD mix he assembled which contains a clever collection of songs as a reminder of many of the fun experiences we have shared together. The specific song selection told me that much thought had gone into its assembly. I did not “need” the CD but it has given me pleasure nonetheless. In this sense it truly is “the thought that counts.”

The spiritual application of this is obvious. For believers, there is pleasure in knowing God and recounting the blessings of that relationship. If we love God it is a joy to give to Him. God is entirely self-sufficient and does not need our money, talents, time, or anything else, for that matter. But our love for Him moves us to devote time and treasure to Him. We want to know Him better and will do what is required to achieve that.

There are many excuses people make for not giving, none of them valid. When Paul says that no one should give “grudgingly or under compulsion” he does not only mean that these are invalid ways to give. Paul means that these are invalid ways to live. Imagine a young man proposing to his beloved and saying, “Well yes, I suppose we’ll have to get married but I know all you want is my money so I’m just gonna hang onto that and besides, you’d just waste whatever I gave you anyway. Of course, don’t forget about the taking care of me “in sickness and in health” part.” No! On the contrary, he proposes marriage to her in the sweetest terms and is relieved and thrilled when she accepts his love gift to her.

There is no place for cynicism in the Body of Christ. I think one problem is that we tend to depersonalize our giving. It is easy to see the Church as a faceless organization or, worse yet, a business which “just wants my money.” But this view is entirely wrong. The Church is the physical manifestation of Christ Himself on earth and any giving of time or treasure is a gift to Him. God does not need our money but we need to give to His work here on earth. In fact, giving is an outgrowth of belief itself. The Macedonians, who had first “given themselves,” “begged…with much urging” to be allowed to give. In the passage from 1st Chronicles cited above, the people gave with their “whole heart” and David’s prayer makes it clear that God’s people viewed their gifts as gifts to God. Paul makes the same point in writing to the Corinthians that “God loves a cheerful giver.” Paul did not say “I (Paul) love” or “the church business manager loves” but “God loves.” God is personal and giving to God is a personal gift and we should be thinking that way as we decide what and when to give.

Thank you for your faithfulness and please continue to give to the building fund.