Interest piece, though I'm not entirely convinced by the analogy he draws between the faith that almsgiving requires of us (we trust that in giving to others that we are also giving to God) and the faith that markets and investment need.
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/05/faith--finance-1243315689
Love to hear what others think.
P. Davis Amer. Natl Govt DBU
ReplyDeleteThe book of Hebrews tells us that “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. With that statement made, it’s not the giving that matters, but the reason behind the giving. Do we give because we see a need and desire to meet it, or do we give to be seen? God knows the intent of our hearts. Therefore the reward is in the intent, by which we gave, and not to whom or in the amount given. Remember the widow’s mite.
I find this article almost uncanny in its timing. The last several weeks of sermon from my pasture in church have been on God’s Love. The core of the sermons being that his love is unending and that there is nothing we can do be it good or bad to change God’s perception of us. Meaning we do not work on a debt system. God is not going to love us more or give us a better chance of making it to heaven if we do things that please him. We do things to support the pour, to help or neighbors, to show that we live in God’s light, not because we expect an ultimate return, we do them because we are to do things that would be pleasing to the ones that love us and our actions reflect God’s love towards us.
ReplyDeleteWhen we believe in God’s love we take our faith out the door. Meaning out the door of our church on Sunday morning, out into the public and we live in a way that reflects our belief in that love in the same manner our actions are a reflection of our love for our parents and their love for us.
Therefore, although giving to the pour and supporting our friends in their times of need will not guarantee us a “return on investment from the lord,” (the only thing that guarantees that is our ultimate belief and acceptance of him, he is not a bank that we can withdraw credits from), they will help us to walk in his light, and live in his faith, by acting in a way that is good.
I've been reading the Old Testament lately and I read one passage I think in Exodus, where Moses said to the Israelites, "if you feel moved to give, than give." I thought about this and was thinking about the Christian church and how we are told 10% for tithing. Are we to only give when we mean it or should we just give out of a robotic routine?
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the New Testament I realized that if we are Christians we are to have this love, this agape love that gives so much that it's all we can think of. So we are to always give and always give to the poor. We are to be actively showing our faith through works, which is what the Book of James says. If we have faith it'll become apparent in our works. Not that our works can save us, which the article was saying in the beginning on how some people think that the King could attain righteousness through almsgiving.
A story that I thought of the whole time while reading this was a counselor I once talked to about giving and tithing and "almsgiving" He said he always did what God wanted of him, every paycheck no matter what was going to be donated or used in some way for those who needed it. When he was looking for a house they found the perfect house but it was way over their price range but the people who owned the house said that they just felt like God wanted them to have it so they GREATLY reduced the priced and left with a deficit rather than a profit on the house because they knew God wanted it for them. The counselor said that it was because he always gave and God blesses those who give.
I think the ultimate payback is NOT the recieving of money, material possesions, or anything related to the market or anything economical but what Jesus says in Matthew of the separating of the goats and sheep. Do you want to be the sheep who clothed and fed Christ with wanting nothing in return or are you going to be a goat who is separated and cast out of paradise for not taking care of those who need help?
(DBU POLS)
ReplyDeleteI'd actually like to comment on Joseph's post above mine.
I think the fact that the counselor made it a priority to do with every penny what God wanted him to is a huge step in the right direction. We are often forced to give our 10% but God deserves all of it, not just the part that is preached at us about. The problem with our mindset is also that those who give get blessed. Now this may be a true statement but the point is not to give in order to get blessed but to do it simply because God is worthy of our worship this way. So as great as it is to get blessings because we give, that shouldn't be our motivation.
On another note, I agree that this article's comparison of our faith giving and that of the market is not as strong an analogy as the author would set forth. But nonetheless a good effort.
I believe that we should be giving in down economic times. God's Kingdom is advancing and we need to move with it. I think of Elijah and the widow. She had only enough oil to last a short time then she said she would die. Elijah told her to give what she had.God multiplied it, and she was not hungry. This took an act of faith that in turn saved her. When we give we are being obedient to God as an act of worship. It expresses our devotion to him and should not be compromised. As far as salvation is concerned, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice and is through faith and belief, and confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Peope who have this fatih will give as demonstrated in the Book of Acts.
ReplyDeleteI resonate with much of what you are each saying. I, too, found the first part of the pice the most moving--and convicting. To trust that we are giving to God when we give to others does take great faith, but also offers us great (spiritual) reward. I'm interested in the connection that the author draws between this and the "faith" we need in our markets for investment, but I admit I'm still not convinced that two kinds of faith are really that comparable.
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