by Jim McClurg
Some of the more challenging parts of scripture point out God’s expectation that we not sit on what we know. James speaks forcefully to the self-deception of faith without action. To paraphrase, “Don’t just listen to the word – do what it says!”
Turning principle into action isn’t always easy, of course, and this is especially true when it comes to the use of our money. I’m not sure why I feel differently about my financial resources than other gifts from God. Greed? Fear? Maybe because of the quid pro quo of wages. Unlike many of God’s unmerited blessings, I have to work before I get paid, so the money I earn is mine, right?
How easy to ignore the reality that equally skilled and motivated people didn’t have the chance to work today!
Sometimes even that realization isn’t enough to awaken me to the true source of wealth, however, and the admonition to share generously falls on deaf ears.
All of this raises the bar as we approach the final phase of Spilling Hope. We’ve moved through the first two parts of our three-fold mantra – simplify, learn, give – and I’ve not yet been pulled far from my comfort zone. On the contrary, living more simply soothes my conscience in many ways. And learning, even about troubling subjects, is what college grads have been trained to do.
No, it’s the “give” part of the Spilling Hope campaign that sheds light on my self-deception – the human temptation to take pride in what we’re doing as a church and, in the end, to celebrate without sacrifice. I think this is what Paul referred to as a clanging cymbal.
How reinforcing, therefore, to watch as Bethany attendees have demonstrated increasing generosity each year – not just to Spilling Hope, but to disaster relief worldwide. Ever the pessimist, I had predicted that last year’s giving might not reach 2009 totals. What a shocker as contributions rocketed past that mark to fund almost twice as many wells in our second year.
Who knows how God will lead people to respond in 2011? But whether totals increase or not, it’s the step of faith represented in contributions of any size that give meaning to our words.
That’s why the leadership team at Bethany is praying once again for breadth as much as depth in giving. Because we’re not only investing in water wells and church empowerment, we’re investing in the people of Bethany too, inviting them to experience firsthand the joy of generosity and the blessing of merging word and deed.
Thanks Jim…money is telling isn’t it. Glad to hear the story the giving has told the last couple of years with this project. Good insight!