Abundance and Giving
Our world is as large and small as you can imagine. Large because of vast continents, cities, populations, uninhabited landscapes, and oceans that are unknowable and unexplored. Small because of our shared experience, common emotions of love and fear, desire and yearning. Laughing and crying are understood in any language, as are smiles and hugs. Every person on the planet has both wants and needs, and we all have an abundance of something.
In the first few verses of 2 Corinthians 8, Paul describes the churches in Macedonia as having both great trials and afflictions, an abundance of joy, and a willingness to give themselves to God. Verse two reads, “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” Verses four and five, “Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
Some of the most striking photographs of people I have seen are those of aged or destitute people living in squalor with smiles on their faces and love in their eyes. It is no wonder that such images move us. In contrast, we see celebrities and the mega-rich surrounded by out-of-control extravagance with smiles on their lips but something like emptiness on their faces. It seems like they have everything, but none of it satisfies their souls.
Out of the two examples of people described above, one abounding in love and pure joy, the other abounding in wealth and fame, which could offer the better gift to humanity? No doubt sharing wealth would vastly improve the living conditions of those in extreme poverty; no doubt a worthy goal. But wealth has a downside; those who have it seem to always want more. However, if there were a simple way to impart joy and pure love, the world would be a vastly better place.
Giving and receiving can be a tricky business. For example, when someone gives a gift to those in need, is there a limit to what should be given? Should the giver hold back to ensure future generosity is possible, given that resources are finite? It depends on circumstances that must be determined at the time.
The transfer of worldly wealth is done in two ways: voluntarily and involuntarily. It seems like those who advocate for wealth distribution want to do it with other people’s money. This involves the involuntary method of giving, which is not giving at all. It has no regard for the necessary limits as I laid them out before. Money does not solve every problem. It is a temporary fix to immediate needs, and that is it. Involuntary wealth distribution punishes the giver and creates ungrateful recipients who expect more and more.
The voluntary method of giving blesses both the giver and the recipient. It is best done face-to-face, but it may not always be possible. Some, if not all, intermediaries require a cut of the gift to cover the logistics cost to get it from one party to the other. When someone gives out of the goodness of their heart according to the needs of others, both the giver and the recipient are blessed.
Going back to Paul and the Corinthians, the appeal and message was that the afflictions of the Macedonian saints would be blessed by the voluntary contributions of the more affluent Corinthians, but also, the abundance of the Macedonians would benefit the Corinthians. Verse 14 of chapter 8 reads, “But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality.”
In the example of the photographs I shared earlier, wouldn’t it be great if you could combine the love and joy in the eyes of the impoverished children with some luxuries and celebrity of the mega-wealthy? Sadly, that can never happen in our world as it is. Human nature will not allow it. That is why we must overcome our fallen nature. We must replace the me-first culture with a God-first approach, using Jesus as the example.
Now, the challenge for us all: Ask yourself, where does my abundance lie? What gifts do I have to offer? I contend that we all have something in abundance and are also needy in some way. We should all be willing givers and receivers. You could argue that you only have so much money and can’t afford to give it away. But it is not your money that is limited; it is your time. Your knowledge and skills used to make money can be shared with others. Paul says we should “stretch not ourselves beyond our measure.” However, that implies that we should stretch.
The truly unlimited possessions we have, and I argue are the most beneficial to others, are joy and love. You can give those away without you ever running out of them. Smiles, hugs, compliments, and encouragement are rarely turned away. Only the most bitter of souls will reject them, and even they will eventually soften.
Consider these verses, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
I hope you will consider new ways to give of your abundance, whatever that may be.
Have a blessed day.