Some Give till It Hurts, But They're Too Sensitive to Pain!

by   Jim N. Griffith                                                                                                                                                                     Vol. VII, No. 1, January 1994

[Reprinted from The Christian Index, 28 October 1993.]

The church member who is irritated by the preaching of stewardship messages will often give vent to his irritation by complaining, "I just don't like it – the preacher is always talking about money!"

However, the complainer will receive no support for his position from Scripture, for Jesus talked more about the stewardship of money than He did heaven or hell. Approximately one verse out of every six of Jesus' teaching involves money.

Robert Moss declared, "To meet Jesus is to look yourself in the pocketbook, which is the most unmistakable way of looking yourself in the heart."

The pastor of a small southern church was exhorting his flock to give generously when the hat was passed. "Give," he pleaded, and with divine inspiration, "give as though it was going right back into your own pocket."

After the service he chided one of the older members of the congregation: "Harry. I noticed that you let the collection plate go right by you in spite of my appeal."

"Well, Reverend," he said, "I figured as long as the money was going back into my pocket anyway, it didn't need no round trip."

This man, like the one who constantly complains about his church needing money, has not discovered the joy of giving.

Admittedly, some church members "give till it hurts" – but the record shows that they are very sensitive to pain.

Giving is costly, but the alternative is unthinkable for the committed Christian. As George W, Truett once said: "The purpose of systematic stewardship is to develop the giver in the Christian life."

And as a practical matter, giving puts our money where our mouths are. For although some may proclaim great love for God and His Kingdom's work, the fact is: If God doesn't have a just portion of your possessions, He doesn't have you!