Christian Living

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THE ART OF GIVING

A friend of mine once bought a shirt – a very expensive shirt for his status, say about 10,000 Naira, and he loved it. It was a cute designer shirt. As soon as he got home, he unwrapped it and examined it again and again. He was proud to be the owner. Every now and then, he would check it out again.
The following night just after he prayed before going to bed, like a response to his prayer, God spoke to him in a thought and said, “Give that shirt to Ben.”
At first he considered it a worthless thought, but it came again and again. He couldn’t get to sleep. He was never going to let go of the shirt. He hadn’t worn it out yet, and he was waiting for the opportunity. And then here comes God telling him to give it out. No way.
For hours he refused to succumb. “I can’t give it out. Not even to Ben of all people. He will not value its worth. He could wear it to sleep, play soccer with it, and even wear it while doing domestic chores. He’s not the kind of guy that deserves this kind of shirt. But even then, I can’t give it out.”
“Muyiwa, give that shirt out.” God repeated again and again.
“Lai-lai.” Muyiwa repeatedly responded stubbornly.
“Why won’t you give it out?” God asked.
“It’s expensive. I paid my last kobo for it.” Muyiwa replied.
“What makes it expensive?” God asked again.
“I bought it for 10000 Naira.” He replied.
“And is that the shirt’s worth?” God asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mind if I tell you the true worth of that shirt?”
“True worth? It’s 10000 bucks. Cash down.”
“No it’s not.”
“Hmm?”
“No it’s not.” God repeated.
“Then what’s its worth?” Muyiwa asked.
“Burn it and tell me what it becomes.”
“Burn!?...”
“Just an experiment.”
“I can’t burn it.” Muyiwa protested.
“Yes you can. And then tell me what it becomes.”
“Ashes.”
“Yes ashes. That the true worth of your 10000 Naira shirt.”

Why must we give? How much should we give? How much sacrifice? What do we get in return? What’s God point of view on giving? Welcome to another edition of FRANK TALK. And I have with me on the panel, Our Master Jesus, King Solomon, Apostle Paul, Peter, and our Hebrew friend.

You ere welcome panelists.

PANELISTS: “Thank you.”

Master, why must we give?

JESUS: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

Blessed? What are the blessings of giving?

JESUS: “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Solomon, what do you feel about that?

SOLOMON: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

To whom should we give?

JESUS: “Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Sometimes you may have something to give. And for some reason, you decided not to give it. Is this okay?

SOLOMON: “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’ – when you now have it with you.”

Paul, is it only when we are approached and under compulsion that we should give, or could we give out of our own compassion for others without being asked?

PAUL: “Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Master, the way we respond to the need of others also tells a lot about us. As children of God, how should we respond to the need of others?

JESUS: “Be careful not to show your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in open places to be honoured by men. I tell you they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Peter, is it only in cash and kind that we can meet the needs of others? Or can we meet the needs of others by giving a helping hand, praying for them, loving, caring…aren’t these all part of giving?

PETER: “Each person should use what ever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

As recorded in the Acts, the early Christians showed excellent examples by sharing whatever they had amongst themselves and there was no form of individualism or selfishness among them even though they didn’t have much – apart from Ananias and Saphirah who were judged instantly. How were they able to do it?

PAUL: “Brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given them. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generousity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond heir ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. But just as you excelled in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

Thank God for His grace. In today’s world, there are too many things to settle; house rents, school fees, electricity bills and yes, transport fares; let alone personal needs. In the midst of all these and many more that needs our attention financially or otherwise, can we really ‘excel’ and do as the early Christians did?

PAUL: “I am not commanding you but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. Finish the work so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.”

Resources don’t last forever. What happens when the table turns and we are in need?

PAUL: “Our desire is not that others might be relived while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn, their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

But not everyone can be generous to us as we were generous. Not everyone will give to us as we gave – some might not even give at all. And then we wonder whether it’s an offence to be good. Then we’re left alone.

PAUL: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my friends but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way.”

How about people who take unnecessary advantage of our generousity.

PAUL: “In this matter, no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.”

And we ourselves should be careful about the way we give.

PAUL: “Be careful then how you live – not as unwise, but as wise…because the days are evil.”

Anything from you our Hebrew friend?

THE HEBREW: “Keep on loving each other as brothers. And do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Master, what do you have to say to round up today’s discussion on giving?

JESUS: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invited you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Thank you so much sirs, for your insightful contributions.

PANELISTS: “You’re welcome.”

Muyiwa eventually gave the shirt to Ben. And after that gesture, he experienced peace like never before. And since then, he devoted his life to giving himself in every way he could. Today more than 90% of Muyiwa’s elite belongings were gifts from people. People he had given words of hope, a helping hand, a little token – the little things we take for granted, they are all worthwhile, because in the end, the blessing comes back to you in full measure, coupled with the joy you feel seeing others happy through your gifts and the joy of your needs being met without effort.




I dreamt I went to heaven, and you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold, beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing, and then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came
And he said ‘Friend, you may not know me now’, and then he said ‘But wait’,
You used to teach my Sunday school, when I was only eight
Every week you would say a prayer before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer, I asked Jesus into my heart.

Then another one stood before you and said ‘Remember the time…’
‘…a missionary came to your church, and his pictures made you cry,
You didn’t have much money, but you gave it anyway,
Jesus took that gift you gave, and that’s why I’m here today’.

One by one they came, as far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched by your generousity
Little deeds that you have done, the sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth, in heaven is now proclaimed
And I know up here in heaven, you’re not supposed to cry
But I know more sure; there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand, and you stood before the Lord
He said “My child look around you… Great is your reward”.

Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am a life that was changed,
Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave.

“The Lord is pleased when giving is not measured by amounts;
Our attitude and sacrifice are what He really counts.”
- Sper.


SCRIPTURES USED IN ORDER OF USE

1) Acts 20: 35
2) Matthew 5: 42
3) Luke 6: 38
4) Proverbs 11: 24-25
5) Proverbs 3: 27-28
6) 2 Corinthians 9: 7-8
7) Matthew 6: 1-4
8) 1 Peter 4: 10
9) 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5, 7
10) 2 Corinthians 8: 8, 11-12
11) 2 Corinthians 8: 13-15
12) Romans 12: 17-19, Philippians 4: 19
13) 1 Thessalonians 4: 6
14) Ephesians 5: 15-16
15) Hebrews 13: 1-2
16) Matthew 25: 31-40

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