John 15:13
I was listening to 104.7 The Fish on my way home from school today, switching back and forth between that and B98.5 - the two radio stations that play Christmas music. Staying on the station that was playing the better song at the moment, or the one that wasn't playing commercials. Today, the fish is doing a fundraiser called "Help Rebuild Haiti" which is put together by FFTP (Food for the Poor). In between songs they would have the Deejays come on the air and broadcast this by talking about what had happened to Haiti, and how we could help. All of the money donated is going towards building a house. A $2,600 donation will buy a Haitian family a whole new house. I believe this is a great thing, and believe that there can never be too much outreach and giving to the poor/helping the poor. As Jesus says in Luke 12 "Sell your possessions and give to the poor." But what caught my attention as I listened to these Deejays explain how you could give, was how almost every time they mentioned it, they added something about self-gratification. "You could give $200 and you'll feel great doing it!" or "Support a family and you can send your mother-in-law a picture of them, and then you wont have to buy her an actual gift, and you and her will both feel like you've done something 'good' and you wont even have to make a trip to the mall." Of course they didn't say these words, but the idea is the same. Give without sacrificing anything. We've made giving too easy.
TOMS. Another gift that I can benefit from! Yes, the idea that every time someone buys a pair of shoes from this company they give one to a shoeless person in Africa is great, but the idea that giving is now a way to receive is plaguing our country! If I buy this pair of TOMS for someone that is in need, I get a pair! These'll look great with my new shirt! And I'm helping someone out too. This is so easy!
"Sell your possessions..."
Sell my possessions? Are you crazy? I can give this kid in Africa a pair of shoes and gain from it as well, why would I sell my possessions!
What about the widow who gave all that she had? Why aren't we mimicking her? Why do we instead follow the rich men who give out of wealth?
"He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'"
Luke 21: 2-4
For her poverty was counted more than the abundance of the rich.
A good feeling is the result of giving, but is not the reason for giving.
Treasure in Heaven is both the result and the reason.
As we are entering this Christmas season - a season of "giving" - let us remember what it really means to give.
And what is the greatest gift?
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
"If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13
If love is the greatest gift, what is love?
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends"
The greatest love - the greatest gift - is one with absolutely no self-gratification! There is no one there to applaud you as you parade around, letting everyone know what a great gift you've given. To give the ultimate gift, is to lay down your life! And the ultimate return is stored up in Heaven.
God promises the greatest reward, and as we cheerfully give there will be gratification, but we do not cheerfully give so there will be gratification.
Give out of love.
Love like Christ.
And your treasure will be stored in Heaven.
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