The Call to Give, Part 1: Possessions

~Tuesday Thoughts~

These November Tuesdays I want to explore the theme of giving. The Dictionary of Bible Themes divides it up into four things: giving of oneself, of possessions, of talents, and of time. I'm mixing that order up and we’ll have possessions first, time second, talents third and then –oh, the climax!- the giving of oneself. So, let’s start!


Giving of possessions is what most people think of when they talk about giving. It’s what comes to mind when someone stands up at church and urges us to give. It’s what scares us out of our wits because – seriously! – we don’t have that much. Really! We work for what we get and that’s about enough for just us (and maybe a family if we’re married). We don’t have an extra stash of money anywhere just for that sole purpose of giving it all away. We give a tenth as it is. What else can anyone ask, right?

Really?

I like what a pastor at my church once said. The main meaning of it goes something like this: What we call ‘just enough’ is a stretchable thing. We have ‘just enough’ and then we slowly add some more stuff and that becomes the new ‘just enough’.

Seriously, we have a lot if we just look. For one, we probably can get three meals a day. We have a place to call home or at least to cover us when it’s cold outside. We have a phone or computer or know where to find one we can use (the library, anyone?). The list goes on and on– maybe a lot farther, maybe not that far for some of you. But we  have stuff. And not everyone has all that.  We have more than we realize.


And good news: God does not measure your giving like people do. He won’t scrutinize you for the mere ten bucks when He knows that’s basically all you have. Remember the widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4)? That should be our example of giving. Giving everything we have.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)


For more on this awesome and really big topic of giving of possessions be sure to check out what
The Dictionary of Bible Themes has on it. The subtopics include motives for giving, the manner of giving and more. Tell me that doesn’t intrigue you at least a little bit. It does me!

How about you? What do you thinking of giving possessions? What inspires you to give? What do you already give or are planning to give? Please share!