What S So Funny About

What’s so funny about

GIVING?

By Simon Everett

Whilst at college I found myself, like many others, in a situation where time was in such short supply that I could not see how I would finish my work in time to meet the deadlines. With finals looming large and three major essays to conclude (one to start!) I simply could not see how I was going to get everything done. Despite the temptation to reduce my time in prayer and devotion I did not succumb. Instead I sought God’s guidance and support at this stressful time. Whilst doing this a quote from John Wesley came to me, “I have so much to do that I must spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.” So strongly did this come to me that I took it to mean that I should adopt the sentiments as my own. From that point onwards I doubled my time of devotion from one and half hours to three. My friends thought me barmy. However, from that moment on the work seemed to take care of itself - essays were written, revision learned and anxiety replaced with a great peace of heart and mind.

Now why do I tell this story at the outset of a booklet on the subject of giving? My reason is this, time like money is a valuable commodity and it too needs to be given to God. Also, giving (of any kind) defies logic. To have reduced my study time should mean less time to complete my already overwhelming workload but, the fact is, it didn’t. The more willing I was to give of my time to the Lord the more time I seemed to have to do all that was needed. Could this be the same with financial giving?

Why should I give?

Often I have heard people say ‘I’ve worked hard for what I have, why should I give it away?’ It would be easy to answer, and occasionally I do, ‘There are many others who have probably worked harder than you but who have not been as fortunate. Why not share a little of your hard wrought earnings with those less fortunate?’

Howeverthe real answer for Christians is, because the bible tells us that giving is an integral part of our faith. Rarely, if ever, does Jesus talk about money without there being some reference to it being given to those less fortunate. Richard Foster writes, ‘When we read the teaching of the Bible concerning money we see very quickly that giving figures very prominently. We would be hard pressed to find a teaching on money that does not somehow mention giving.’

What is my attitude to money?

One of my favourite prayers of the newer liturgies is the offertory prayer:

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,

the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;

for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

All things come from you,

and of your own do we give you.

This prayer is based on that of King David in 1 Chronicles 29. It was David’s desire to build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant, where the presence of the Lord could reside. However God refused David’s offer and, instead, transferred the task to his son and heir Solomon. Rather than take offence King David did everything in his power to ensure that his son would have all the resources and finances he needed for his task. This amounted to a considerable quantity of gold, silver, bronze, and a great many other precious, and not so precious, materials from the nation’s wealth and from his own savings. Nothing was too much for David. For him to give in this way was an act of devotion; cost did not enter his thinking. As he says in his prayer all things come from God and so it seemed only natural to share what he had been given with the giver.

What is my attitude to giving?

When St Paul was writing to the young Church in Corinth he makes mention of a collection that he started in aid of distressed Christians in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8&9). In this he urges them to be cheerful givers. God loves a cheerful giver says Paul. In fact the root of the Greek word ‘cheerful’ is hilaros from which we get our words ‘hilarious’ or ‘exhilarating’. Paul is saying that giving should literally be an exhilarating experience.

I am sure we all know the joy or thrill of giving something special to someone we love. The thrill of watching them open the parcel and the expression on their face when their eyes first alight on the gift; the smile, the hug, the kiss, the thank you, we receive in return all send waves of pleasure over the heart. How right Jesus is when he says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” There used to be one of the restaurant chains that gave away stickers saying, “I’m a happy eater”. Perhaps we as Christians should have stickers saying, “I’m a cheerful giver”

Part of the reason for the thrill we have in giving is because we are made in the image and likeness of a generous God. By giving we discover something of the joy that God has in his generosity and love. Through giving we enter further into the mystery of God, part of which is the paradox that it is in giving that we receive. How wonderful it is to enter such sacred places! It is a true liberation from the consumerist/capitalist pressures of today that can so easily entangle us.

Attitudes of today

To the worldly it makes no sense to give, especially if we give sacrificially. But as Jesus said, “A person’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15), although many mistakenly believe that it does. There are many who think along the lines of the rich farmer described in Luke chapter 12 (vs13-21) who, having harvested a good crop, decides to keep it all rather than give any away, even though he has not room enough to store it. Unfortunately the man discovered too late that earthly wealth is not ‘the be all and end all’ of happiness. Jesus urges his followers to store up for themselves riches in heaven rather than on earth.

Our response to money (mammon)

Jesus said ‘No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.’ (Matthew 6:24). What many in today’s world (including Christians) fail to realise is that money is not just a neutral medium of exchange but also a “power” with a life of its own. Just think of the way the world’s financial markets control the lives of so many today, and the influence they exert around the globe on governments, commerce and industry as they fluctuate each day(often unpredictably). It is easy for the power of money to gain a hold on, and have power over, an individual – beware.

Money is an integral part of our everyday lives but this does not mean that it should govern all that we do. Christians must learn to use money, without serving money. We serve God through our Lord Jesus Christ - and God has given us money to use in that service.

Giving to God is one way of breaking any hold that money may have on our lives, it is certainly a way of breaking the power of mammon. Our reaction to being asked to give may be an indicator as to how great a hold mammon has on our lives. Also, it breaks our desire to be in control of all things. If money is given freely to God it is out of our control. Of course the Church or charity must be careful stewards of the gifts they receive, but the giver no longer has control of his or her gift.

How much should I give?

A rather pat answer might be “Give as much as you cheerfully can!” But often people need guidelines as to what might be an appropriate amount. In days gone by, and in many churches today, a tithe was thought to be the amount required by God. This is a tenth of a person’s income, and it has its origins in the Old Testament.

Tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham wants to thank God and so makes a gift of a tenth of all that he has. Later in Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob makes a vow to give a tenth of his entire God given wealth to his Lord.

After Exodus, God gave Israel the Law through Moses. The Ten Commandments are the best-known part of the law, but it also includes many other regulations. Tithing is one of those regulations.

We can read in Numbers 18:21 about bringing the tithe to the priests. The idea of the tithe is that each person gives the same proportion of their income as the next. This results in a fair way of ensuring everyone contributes. No tithe is too small and none too big!

Actually, God doesn’t need our money, after all he owns all things! So is giving for our benefit? In Deuteronomy 8:1-20 we get a picture of God wanting his people to be obedient to him so that they can have a fruitful life. Verse 18 reminds us to, ‘remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors’. This suggests that we give to God in order to remember that he is the provider and in order to remember that we are dependant on him.

Malachi 3:8-10 gives us another insight into why God wants us to give. Again the message here is that if we give what God asks of us he will bless us and provide for us in greater ways than we can imagine. Indeed those who do not give their due stand accused of robbing God.

But what does the New Testament say? Hasn’t Jesus come to set us free from the old Law? In 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9 we read how Paul encourages the church there to give. Indeed 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is very clear that every Christian should give a proportion of their income.

What were Jesus’ views on giving? He taught much about money and possessions (e.g. Matthew 6, Matthew 19:16-30). He paid his Temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27) and in conversation with the Pharisees heencouraged them to tithe and be generous (Matthew 23:23). He praised the widow for giving everything she had (Mark 12:41-44), which not only encourages the poor to give, but also challenges the attitude of the rich to their money.

So even in the New Testament we are left with clear guidelines that we should give to God; giving a proportion of our income, as we receive it. All you have to do is decide what proportion you should give! There is nothing in the New Testament that suggests the tithe is obsolete; but above all else the New Testament stresses that giving should be from the heart.

What does the Church of England say about Giving?

At General Synod meeting in July 2009 two reports on Giving for Life were debated. General Synod carried the following motion :

‘That this Synod, affirming that God gives abundant gifts to us as individuals and as a Church, and that we are stewards of all that God has given us:

(a) encourage church members (including children and young people) to live generously as disciples of Jesus Christ, joyfully giving time, skills, money and other resources to God’s mission in the world, in times of economic stringency as well as of plenty, in response to the lavish generosity of God to us in Christ who made Himself poor that we might become rich;

(b) reconfirm its challenge to church members to assess annually their financial giving as a proportion of income and to adopt as an initial target the giving of 5% of their after tax income to and through the church, and a similar amount to other work that helps to build God’s kingdom…

How is money given to the church spent?

This will vary from year to year, but on-going running costs, include insurance, heating, light, maintenance services, minor repairs and administration costs, to name but a few. However, the largest portion of annual giving goes to the diocese in the form of parish share (formerly known as the quota). As the name suggests this is an individual parish’s (or team’s) share of the ministry costs which includes: clergy pay, pensions, housing, training and resourcing parishes; with a very small portion going towards diocesan administration, including education(4%).

Is there no other source of funding our parishes?

Yes, there are various fundraising events throughout the year organised by parishioners to raise money for the general running costs, or for specific purposes. Also, whenever possible the PCC (Parochial Church Council) will apply for grants from charities or trust funds but usually this is for particular projects rather than for general running costs. These projects might include extensive repairs or changes to the church building, or mission projects that require money in order to get them underway.

Usually when there is a major building project, as well as applying for grants, the PCC will launch a separate appeal to the congregation and wider community to raise the necessary funds.

Another source of funding is the generosity of some of our predecessors, who in their wills left a legacy to the parish church for the benefit of future generations. Sometimes there is a stipulation that means the bequest can only be spent on certain things like mission, or church fabric etc. but others leave it to the discretion of the PCC. This is still an option considered by many and can sometimes result in a reduced solicitor’s fee. Also, some have helped by stipulating that the collection at their funeral (and in their memory) goes to the Church.

Contrary to popular belief parish churches do not receive any funding from the central government, other than what they receive in reclaimed tax from Gift Aided donations (a benefit enjoyed by all charities).

Will my money go towards running costs

or the church building?

The honest answer is that it can go wherever you would like it to go. There are some who want their money to go purely to the mission and ministry of the Church, stating, quite correctly, that the Church is the people not the building. But there are others for whom the church building is a key part of the Christian faith in the local community and therefore needs to be maintained properly. Thankfully the majority of people see it in terms of both/and rather than either/or. However, wherever Christians choose to meet there will always be running costs

and repair bills to be paid.

Many church buildings have been in place for centuries and have witnessed to God’s presence in the community down through the years. Local parishioners have shared their personal joys and sorrows and their civic and national celebrations and commemorations in these churches, it is as if they have become the spiritual homes of the communities they serve. But more than this they have often been the provider of charity and refuge for the less fortunate.

The PCC and incumbent have overall charge of financial expenditure in the Parish, and decide how income and other funds should be allocated, in the Parish or beyond. The decisions the PCC has made, and the way the money has been spent or saved is made clear in the annual report. The independently examined or audited church accounts (having been approved by the PCC) must be presented for discussion at the APCM.

What difference does it make?

To the Church

To give generously and regularly makes a huge difference to the Church, at a practical level it means the PCC can be released to think about mission and ministry rather than how they can meet their payments. It also means that the PCC can think in new and exciting ways about meeting the challenges facing the Church today, especially with regards to young people. Money fuels Church growth. With regards to the church building it would make it a lot easier to budget for repairs and changes. Finally it would have the knock on effect of helping Christian Charities,that depend on the Church, to fulfil their work for the Lord.

To the individual

By giving in this way it shows that we are serious about our faith. Giving is a spiritual discipline and as such an integral part of our faith that means it is not an optional extra. It is a way of showing that we are committed to what we believe, as Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Just look at the financial commitment of many football fans in our land. They will spend a small fortune on season tickets and travelling arrangements to away matches, even to far flung corners of Europe). By giving generously the giver is more likely to take a greater interest in what the Church is doing and feel a greater part of it. The bible tells us that God blesses those who give and do not count the cost. Also, that giving is exhilarating (even hilarious!), a means of living by faith and witnessing to the goodness of God.