10-23-2005

Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may become your experience of life. It is wonderful what God can do!

"Giving is a Part of Our Spirituality"

October 23, 2005

Good Morning!

   Books on the subject of spirituality continue to fly off the shelves and maintain their popularity. Can you imagine—the subject of spirituality popular in 2005? We humans seem to be just naturally attracted to spirituality—or things of the spirit. Even those who deny the existence of God quite often will then refer to their journey or their seeking of spirituality.

   Our scriptures tell us that God has planted within us a speck of “light” which causes us to be drawn to the “light of Christ” or to our maker. That’s why distant and lost tribes are often found to have had a somewhat advanced sense of spirituality.

   What is spirituality? First we must define spirit. What is spirit? Merriam-Webster defines spirit as “a supernatural being or essence: as (1) HOLY SPIRIT (2) SOUL.” Spirituality, then, is the state of being we have with the Holy Spirit and the state of being of our own soul.

   Our scriptures would define spirituality in terms of our spirit’s relationship with God’s Holy Spirit because the spirit essence is eternal which is the emphasis of Christianity. The soul, on the other hand, includes the spirit, but by definition, also includes the physical body.

   John Wesley, the father of the United Methodist Church, describes the initial state of our spirits. Wesley says that our individual spirits lie dormant within us from birth. God’s Holy Spirit continues to provide and provoke light toward our spirits until we profoundly know the full realization of the good news of salvation. It is at this point that our spirit comes to life and is usually active from that point on, unless intentionally suppressed.

   Once our spirits come alive, we have greater appreciation for the things of God, and sensitivity to things in, or of, a spiritual nature. This might show itself in a keener sense of right and wrong, just or unjust, of God or of Satan. Or it might show itself in a keener awareness of spiritual or invisible phenomena.

   The ultimate goal of spirituality is to (1) enjoy a sense of personal and spiritual fulfillment, (2) share an awareness of God in the needs of others and generously respond, (3) have a sensitivity to the things unseen by the human eye or unknown by the human mind, and (4) have a desire and a promise of unending spiritual life with God.

   In order to achieve these primary goals of spirituality, we must begin to take seriously the admonition of the scripture when it tells us that giving to God and God’s work, is a spiritual act of worship and proclamation of love. Money-conscious Americans often see their possessions as belonging to themselves as opposed to God who proclaims that he is the giver of all we possess.

   In the Scriptures, tithes, gifts, and offerings, are never seen as an "expense" item, a ‘dues’ payment, a donation nor contribution. The words - tithes, gifts, and offerings - are special words used when discussing "giving" or "returning" to God. Our Scripture is quite clear that God has given us everything we have. Why, then, are we are so reluctant to return part of it to him?

   The answer is usually that we have failed to understand that our money and possessions are powerful gifts of God, which are merely lent to us for his purposes while we have physical life on this earth. We cannot take any of it with us; that fact alone should prove it was not ours in the first place.

   God does not ask us for everything back. The Lord is very generous, asking for only 10% of all that has been given to us, so God’s kingdom work can progress. We do not always follow the part that makes giving back to God so much easier! The Scripture clearly says that the first fruit is the part that God wants from us. God does not want what is left over, for they are “the crumbs under the table.” If we would take the first 10% off the top as our Scripture teaches, we would discover how much easier it is to give back to God. Furthermore, God promises that when we are faithful in doing this, we will be blessed many times over—100 times over, to be precise.

   Scripture tells us that giving is little more than the relationship we have with God and the son, Jesus Christ. We are to love God “with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls, and all our strength.” This type of love would be impossible if it did not include our financial resources, which have been received from the God who loves us. How well would the love relationship between a husband and a wife continue if neither made any efforts to give a gift to the other, or return kindness for kindness?

   Think of your tithe (the first 10% of your income) as being a dozen beautiful red roses that you are giving to God for all that God has done for you. It is the most beautiful of gifts! How can we expect our relationship to grow with God if we never give a beautiful gift to him?

   Tithing is the ultimate gift in the love relationship with God. Maybe your faith is not yet strong enough to begin giving such a powerful gift to God. Nevertheless, it behooves us to seriously start the process of growing your love and respect for God. A few beautiful red roses are definitely better than none. For adults, quarters and dollar bills do not make good expressions of love for God. There are costs and responsibilities to a strong and growing love relationship.

   We are told that “God loves a cheerful giver” which means that our giving should be earnest and sincere. This may be quite difficult at the beginning, but as love and responsibility grow, so does the ease with which we are able to give gifts of love to God. Pray now in this season of harvest and giving, about being intentional, loving and generous in your giving to God. Amen.

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