Grace-Oriented Giving

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
2 Corinthians 8:1–5

Having been engaged in ministry for decades, I can remember times when I could almost hear the groans and feel the sighs as I announced that I’d be speaking on giving that particular Sunday. Why do we feel that way? Three specific analogies come to mind:

First, it seems terribly repetitive. The subject of giving is seldom approached creatively, and then when it is addressed, the comments are usually overstated and punctuated with guilt-giving remarks. Most often the congregation is not instructed as much as they are exhorted and exploited. Furthermore, there is neither subtlety nor much humour employed—only large helpings of hard-core facts mixed with a pinch of panic “because giving has dropped off.” More! Same song, ninth verse. The repetitive cycle gets monotonous.

Second, the whole thing has been commercialised. Because grace has been separated from giving, greed has come in like the proverbial flood. Mr. and Mrs. Average Christian are punchy, suspicious, and resentful—sometimes for good reason. During the latter half of the twentieth century, all of us were embarrassed, weren’t we? We saw shameful examples of greed employed in the name of religion. Unbelievable techniques were used to wrench money from the public’s pocket, and we’ve gotten fed up with the gimmicks. Everybody wants more, not just religious folks. Enough is never enough.

Third, there always seems to be a hidden agenda. Just as merchants don’t go to a lot of extra expense and trouble getting their stores ready for Christmas simply for the fun of it, neither do most ministers speak on financial stewardship because it is a fun subject. The bottom line is usually uppermost. The emphasis is seldom on the charming joy of grace-oriented giving but rather on the obligation and responsibility to give “whether you like it or not.”

This is an appropriate time to mention a couple of things, just to set the record straight. How and why we give is of far greater significance to God than what we give. Attitude and motive are always more important than amount. Furthermore, once a person cultivates a taste for grace in giving, the amount becomes virtually immaterial. When those age-old grace killers, guilt and manipulation, are not used as leverage, the heart responds in generosity. Giving at that point becomes wonderfully addictive.