February 2011
Generous Giving
Money is like manure. That is the provocative thought of Vince Correll, a Kentucky banker.
Money is like manure. Because if you stack it all up in one place, it will start to stink. And if you put it all in one place, it will become toxic to everything around it.
If we hold tightly to our God given resources, the holding becomes its own sort of obsession. Hoarding wealth can be toxic to family relationships, friendships and business acquaintances. We can, by seeking to accumulate and hold on to as much as we can, end up isolating ourselves from the world around us.
American’s current giving has slipped to the lowest level since the years before the Great Depression. More and more wealth is concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people. Economic uncertainty has caused many to evaluate their expenditures. While some have cut back on the non-essentials, others have eliminated giving to save more for themselves. It is easy to self-justify this decision even as it stands in direct contradiction to the teachings of generosity found in scripture.
Money is like manure. Because if you spread it around, it can do some good. When it is spread, rather than piled, it is a fertilizer that promotes growth.
When we are generous, it provides a source of light and hope. It can turn dead spots into places that thrive. When we spread our resources, instead of piling them up, they become a source of life rather than death.
God has been generous to us. The supreme example of that generosity is shown in the offering of His Son as a way to find life abundant.
As a church, Faith seeks to reflect and model that generosity with what we have as we do missions in local, national and international ways.
We need each person in our fellowship to practice generosity more now than ever before. It will be a blessing to you and a lifeline for us.
Just remember, money is like manure.
Bob Fox
