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The Real Deal and Money

 For the past two months, I have been meeting with our pastor and five other people on Wednesday evenings. We study and discuss the passage that the pastor will preach on that week. I am honored and humbled (is that possible at the same time) to be in the group and find it deeply meaningful. We have been studying Joseph's life (what a narrative!) and are now in the gospels, particularly Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount. Even more particularly, tonight we discuss Matthew 6:1-4. 

I think Pastor wants to address giving, and he did give a forecast of that last week. He has not to my knowledge done so in a long time, if ever. We do not pass a plate any longer (post COVID but I also think before that dark time). He is not a pastor who wants to be known for talking money frequently. 

But . . . giving is a spiritual practice. It's not just a matter of supporting one's congregation. There is plenty in the Bible about giving materially (financially) to the church one attends, to ministries that do valuable work and are responsible (many are not), and to individuals. The Bible, that is, the Lord Jesus, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and the apostles have a lot to say about the motivation, the meaning, the methods of giving. One cannot be Spirit-led and grasp one's money to their heart. However one defines "cheerful," giving is not an optional thing, despite inflation, fixed income, tariffs, or a sluggish stock market (right now that last does not seem to be a problem).

However, I understand misgivings about giving--the recipients, the reasons (sorry for all the alliteration),  the results. I believe I have been faithful in giving to ministries and also believe some of that money was wasted and could have been used better elsewhere or dare I say it, by myself for my own needs at the time. Today giving requires savvy and to ask questions rather than swiping a card flippantly.

But one thing that remains consistent; it his the motivation that matters. The heart. The desire. Why do we give? If we give for any reason other than love of God and desire to conform to His will, it's off-base. I can easily do what's basically expected of me--a tithe, usually on the net!--and budget around it. That is obligatory, not for God's glory. . 

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