There’s no need for me to avoid it because it is obvious to me that the individual God is currently using in my life to impact me is my six year old son, Landon. What makes it all the more clear is that there is no possible way that the boy could understand the dynamics of how God communicates to His children through others; Landon isn’t trying to be used by God on my behalf. When I step into a pulpit or sit down to write, I am cognizant of the fact that God can use my words to motivate people to think, speak or act in accordance with what I’ve shared – and I intend for Him to do so as I pray and prepare and preach. Landon? Not so much. His face has dried Dorito paste in the corner of his mouth, one half of his shirt is un-tucked, the Velcro straps of his shoes aren’t fastened and he makes sport of passing gas and bellowing out, “Now THAT was a good one!”
He’s not exactly your prototypical spokesman for God.
Leaving church Wednesday night the little fellow proudly revealed that he was the lone child in his Sparks Club who qualified for the nightly prize. What is the prize? They get to reach into a treasure chest of some sort and pull out a handful of candy. Whatever fits and remains in their hand is then transferred to a plastic bag to be taken home. Little Lyle had a bag of goodies and a smoldering smugness that indicated he had good reason to be impressed with himself. I believe I noted a strut in his stride on the way to the parking lot. Anyhooo…as we were approaching the doors leading to the parking lot we had to navigate through the Wednesday crowd at Meadow. Landon was clearly moving more carefully (and slowly) than I. Out the glass doors, I noticed he wasn’t by my side so I turned around. There he was on the other side of the now closed glass door holding his goodie-bag to his chest. I opened the door and barked, “C’mon, son!” He looked at me with somewhat of a glare, he held up his treasured bag of candy and declared, “Sorry, but I have to protect my handful.” And there came the message from the heavenlies to my heart.
If the truth were known, our churches are filled with people who are living to protect their handfuls. In patent unbelief of Jesus’ assertion that it is better to give than receive, many today are living out their days as clutchers…and not all who are doing so are six years old.
Between the protesters at wall street, the doomsday prophets on cable news, the unemployed people in our families, churches and neighborhoods…Christians seem to be holding back on their King these days. Let me call it like it is: with unprecedented skill at rationalization, many who have trusted God with their eternities are staggering at trusting Him with their mortgages and other financial obligations. We’ve seen this markedly reflected in church finances in the last few months. Meadow and many other churches are watching the wind get sucked out of the sails of the church budget. It’s not that expenses have dramatically increased, it’s that giving has atrophied. We have heard of missionaries being forced to come back to the States because Christians back home have decided they can’t afford to give any more. Church staffs are being thinned out around America because the membership roles are populated with clutchers. Community outreaches and benevolence ministries are cutting back or folding altogether. Please remember that there is statistically only 1 out of 10 Americans unemployed but non-profits reflect financial trending that would make an Amillenialist believe that half the church had been raptured along with their offerings! Many children of God have simply stopped their giving. Showing up on Sunday? AMEN! Affirming what is taught and preached? No problem. Employing time and gifting to serve others? That seems reasonable. Continuing to sacrificially give of finances…..?
I hear crickets out there.
Friends, my blog today is not a rant. My words are being shared to remind us all that there is not one single shred of scriptural truth that indicates a security or blessing for those who withhold their finances from Kingdom ministry. You can save money that way but you forfeit your trust and confidence in God. Unbelief metastasizes and it will not stay localized in your finances; a lack of trust in God will infect other areas of our lives if we allow it to live on. The enduring word of God which will outlast every spreadsheet, every 401k, every annuity ever created promises us a reward for faithfulness. Giving is done by faith no matter what the economic climate while clutching is always driven by fear, faithlessness and unspiritual attempts at self preservation. Landon declared that he was “protecting his handful”. Unfortunately, He’s not alone.
Don’t let this world rob you of your joyful dependence upon God. Be an ongoing participant in the community of faith that has been characterized by joyful, obedient and trusting sacrifice. Don’t give God the minimum in order to salve your anxious mind. No – a thousand times no! Every deceased saint I’ve ever viewed in a casket has their hands open, palms down…holding onto nothing as they have left earth. Your confidence and security is not in money and don’t excuse yourself from being faithful in a time such as this. Three years ago, I committed to God that I would defy the economic climate by giving more than I ever had given before. He has graciously honored and enabled that commitment and my joy and trust is growing in ways I could not anticipate when I originally made the commitment. In our culture, money is the chief rival to God when it comes to where you draw your sense of stability. Topple that golden statue of the heart and renew your confession of trust and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and His mission in your generation.
Give. Jesus declared over all of time that it was much better than receiving and, therefore, much better than clutching.
Well said, son