Excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7; New International Version).
Our God is a lavish giver, surrounding us with the varied beauties of creation and humanity. All that we have, all that we are, flows from the generosity, diversity and abundant love of our Creator.
My former husband taught me the countercultural grace of tithing—the commitment to share 10% of our annual income. Initially, I was fearful, having grown up in a context where money became a catalyst for worry and careful choices were essential. How could we give 10% away? Stuart’s patience and accompaniment around this concern revealed that choosing to give can become a joyous enterprise, especially with a sum left over near year’s end. Giving money away feels like being a charitable trust!
Though now on my own, I’ve remained committed to tithing. I give to the campus ministry I serve and to congregations I visit, which support and interconnect with Lutheran campus ministries. Additional donations bless other campus ministries and Lutheran agencies. I love surprising family members and friends on special occasions. And when compelling needs arise, I feel free to share generously.
Giving as the Lord invites us to do asks of our hearts, as well as our checkbooks. Volunteering time and service are beautiful ways to embody Christ’s generosity. Handwritten cards bring smiles and comfort. Listening to a dear friend, fully focused on her story, may be the best gift she’s received in a long time. My mother and fellow seamstresses craft thousands of quilts, sent by Lutheran World Relief across the globe to comfort those facing disaster—and our world’s demands for help keep multiplying. In the face of so much need, one happy note: when you give, you may well be reminded that Jesus loves surprises!
Choosing to give can become a joyous enterprise.
One summer, after debating, praying and circling back, I picked up a hitchhiker on the Oregon Coast, having felt the Spirit’s nudges. (I don’t advocate this as general practice.) As Nick got in, he said, “God told you to come back, didn’t he?” All the way from Newport to Yachats, he shared favorite Bible verses and encouraged my service of ministry. Though I gave Nick a ride, he showered me with grace.
When we’re listening as we give, there’s no telling where our loving Shepherd will lead. In 2018, Jesus directed me to a previously unvisited church in Hillsboro, Ore., to give my last December tithe check to a woman I met inside. In return, she asked what I did. I told her I served in campus ministry in Delaware, yet was deeply missing the Pacific Northwest, feeling unsure whether to stay in my call. She looked me in the eyes and shared, “As a young adult, I struggled with depression and thought about taking my own life. The person who was there for me, the one who showed me Jesus’ unconditional love, was my campus minister. Those students need you. You have to go back!”
That day I was the one who received the greater gift from God’s abundance and interconnected economy. The Spirit’s summonings led to the very individual whose story my spirit most needed to hear.
When we choose to share from what our prodigal Father has already extravagantly given, we open ourselves to extraordinary possibilities to bless others and be blessed. I encourage you to take a leap of faith and increase your giving this year, and again next year, as you prayerfully set goals. It likely means giving up some luxuries. It certainly means creativity, both in what you let go and in whom you choose to bless. Trust that our playful, inspired God of abundance will provide, likely in unexpected ways. Open your hands. Listen deeply for the Spirit. Go and give somewhere new.
Remember it all belongs to God, the one who loves us. You may well encounter a beautiful, inspiring fellow member of the body of Christ, who gives you just what you need in return.
