In the fall of 1968... I interviewed for a job with the Iowa Commission for the Blind, and during the interview, Kenneth Jernigan, Director of the Commission, asked "How much do you want?" And I said, "$6800 per year." It was strange question for him to ask, but my answer was even stranger. Indeed, it was foolish... because $6800 a year wasn't enough money to live on, not even back in '68. In any event, he hired me (at a slightly higher wage), and I absolutely loved my job! I loved visiting my clients; I loved teaching white cane travel (although I never taught it particularly well), and I loved selling White Cane Candy in the factories of Dubuque and on the streets of Fort Dodge. Although I wasn't getting rich, I had a purpose that seemed bigger than money to me, and I threw myself into my work. In time, we moved to Omaha, and over the years, I held positions that provided much greater salaries and significantly more perks than I ever would've received with the Commission. However, it was in downtown Des Moines,where I learned that giving is a source of joy... when you're in love with a purpose... and I did love the idea of helping others find dignity and opportunity. When you give to something (or someone) that is every bit a part of you... the giving brings you great joy... and enriches your soul.
Now, in the fall of 2013, I'm a pastor in the Presbyterian Church, and it's "stewardship time" again. Year after year, we hand out commitment cards; year after year, we ask you to pledge; year after year, we ask people from the congregation to tell you why it's important to give generously; and of course, we always set aside a Sunday (or two, or three) for a stewardship sermon. For those who are practically minded, we cite the expenses we have to pay- which, given the size of our building, are very real. For those who are program-oriented, we note that it takes money to fund Learning Centers and Tutoring programs, and it does! For those who are faithful to God's word, we anchor our requests in Biblical terms, and for those who see giving as an investment, we cite all the things that God can do with our contributions. There is merit in all of these. We do have bills to pay. God will bless our giving, and there's no doubt that God commands us to give. However...none of these reasons will accomplish much.... without love! Unless we give out of our love for Jesus, we will only... and always give on our own terms. We will never give sacrificially... unless we are in love! This is a spiritual axiom, and it's corollary is this: if we are in love, no power on earth can keep us from giving all that we are and all that we have... to the person or object we love!
Unless you're passionate about the person or cause, "joyful giving" will forever be an oxymoron. In a phrase, love is the key to stewardship because love demands giving. Tell a man who has fallen in love with golf... to play the game that he loves just every once in a while... and watch as he spends money (and time) on lessons, equipment, and as many rounds of golf as he can. Why? Because he's enthused, en fuego, in love. Tell a young man who has fallen in love with the woman of his dreams... to quit buying her flowers, dinners, and other tokens of love... and see how that works! Tell a young girl who has given her heart to the piano... that she needs to have a more balanced life... and note that she will forsake all others, even the boys, and practice by the hour, without ever being nagged... because she finds deep joy in giving to what she loves. Tell a Christian who is on fire for Jesus, to "cool it," and you'll find that you might as well be talking to the wall... because he is driven to give everything he can... to his Lord and Savior! Love is the key to generous giving... and this is especially true of money ... because only love is strong enough to sever the delicate cord that connects the heart and the purse.
Even the best of church members are prone to give in a measured way... unless they are "in love with Christ" but if they are... they will give and give and give and count it all joy. Unless giving gives us joy, we will never do much of it, and it will only give us joy... if we truly believe that, in giving, we will become rich.
So, our stewardship campaigns take place in the midst of a conundrum: if you are on fire for Christ, you don't need the campaign... but if you aren't in a place spiritually where "joyful giving" makes much sense to you... all of the reasons why in the world won't affect you much, Thus, when all is said and done, we simply remind some of you that it's time to give joyfully, and encourage others... to discover the joy of giving by tippy-toeing into the waters of faith. If you are at a place spiritually where you simply can't give joyfully, let me suggest that you give 1, 2, 5, 10% MORE than you are comfortable with...and discover how rich you feel. ! Amen.
pk
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