Thought for the Week

‘Generous God, Generous Disciples’

A reflection by Rev. Chris Willis – Curate, St. Albrights, 1^st December, 2020

Today I received another request for money via an e-mail; it occurred to me I receive at least one a day, whether it be an envelope through the door, often with a very moving image, full of free items, which then make me feel a little guilty if I simply discard them into the recycling bin; which is no doubt the intention? And just now a request for funding for an honourable Christian organisation via another e-mail. I have at least one such request a day, and perhaps overwhelmed by the volume, I have found the delete button and recycling bin, locations I regularly frequent! At the same time, at the beginning of Advent, Bishop Peter of Chelmsford, has launched ‘Generous God, Generous Disciples’, with emphasis on Christians being generous with ‘time, skills and money’. Perhaps a strange time to launch such a thing you might think, with challenges we face with Covid, job security and expense of Christmas ahead. And Bishop Peter acknowledges that this is a challenging time for many. So how, I wondered, should we as believers in Jesus, this Advent, respond to such a call?

‘Generous God, Generous Disciples’ tells us: ‘During Advent we look forward to the coming of Christ, God’s gift to the world. And during Advent this year, we will reflect on our own giving in response to God’s generosity’. 

I know that a short reflection is not a place for detailed biblical study on all the aspects of giving, of time, skills, and particularly money, but I hope nevertheless that these few words would provide some helpful thoughts, inspirations and reassurances. Please let me assure you that there is no ‘hard sell’ heavy appeal for ‘your money’. For those of you old enough to remember ‘Live Aid’, (I am!!), I am not going to do a Bob Geldof who famously demanded into our television screens ‘give us your money’!; yet as Christians it is good and right that we think occasionally about how we give of our time, skills and yes, even our finances.

So, we might reflect upon the widow, who gave so little, yet in doing so gave, as Jesus noted, so much from her poverty, that she in fact gave all that she had. We might think of Annas and Saphira, who gave from their plenty, making a big show of it, then in fact dishonestly kept some of it back for themselves, and there are so many more different biblical examples of giving. But what I think is most helpful to remember, is that everything we have, is in fact, already God’s. We might think, ‘well I did the hard work, I studied and qualified, so everything I have, my time, skills and money are all mine’! As I thought about this I was intrigued to read in the book of Exodus, and noted that the credit for the skills of the craftsmen, those who were tasked to make the tabernacle, was credited not to them, but to God, as the giver of the those skills. And as we look around us, and particularly helpful to embrace on such a beautiful sunny morning as I type and reflect, everting, the whole earth, is God’s anyway. So, upon reflection, I hope that three thoughts may be helpful:

Firstly, as said, it is good to remember that everything we have belongs to God. When we do give of our time, skills and money, we are in fact not giving so much ‘to God’, as giving ‘back’ to God. It’s his in the first place and always shall be. 

Secondly, God loves a ‘cheerful giver’, so whilst, yes, it is natural to sometimes have a wrestle as we commit to giving, and God understands that, ultimately we can be joyful in giving back to God some of that which he has blessed us with in the first place.

Finally, God calls us to be good stewards and to exercise wisdom with what he has blessed us with, and for some there are seasons when we can give more of ourselves, and seasons when we can give less. We might particularly think of those who have reduced income and uncertainty at this time. But even the most cursory read of scripture will reassure us that we love a God who loved us first, who shall always do so, and who promises to provide for us. (Matthew 66:25-34). 

So, God calls us not to guilt, but joyfulness in the realisation that he is faithful to us. Our giving, of time, skills an money, should not be so much as a duty, but rather an act of joyful and worshipful response to the God who loves us, and who himself gave everything for us.  

Perhaps I could say again, there is no hard sell intended, no guilt implied, but I hope we can all, as we look towards the God who gave all of himself, consider our own giving, of time, skills and money, in a fresh and new way. Not a burden, but a joyful act, as God provides, of worshipful response.

I will finish with these words from Scripture which say is so much better than ever I could:

1 Corinthians 9:6-7: 

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹