Celebrating the Gift of Giving

As many of you may know (from earlier postings) New Life has been involved in raising awareness of the plight of famine in the Horn of Africa.  We also did a fair amount of fund-raising for the Red Cross as well toward the same purpose.

Sunday evening (Feb 26) several people came out to a service of celebration for the awareness made and funds raised.  But we must not be quick to pat ourselves on the back because the Bible says that we should give both freely (2 Corinthians 9:7) and anonymously (Matthew 6:3-4).  Instead, we celebrated the gift of giving that God has empowered within our church and community.  The Red Cross was present as well to make a special presentation to our church.

Overall, the community and churches did well in raising between four and five thousand dollars.  One of the efforts was through the four schools in the area (three small elementary schools and a junior high school).  All together they raised $1500.00.  They did this through a "Toonie Tuesday" fund raising effort.  (A toonie is the Canadian equivalent of two Canadian dollars).  During Toonie Tuesday each of the schools raised awareness to their students about the plight of famine and a background summation on the Horn of Africa.

Three of the christian churches in the area raised money as well.  It was an exercise in Ecumenicism at its best.  We have a great bond between our churches when it comes to areas of ministry we can participate in together.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:14: "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."  We don't often think of people in third world countries as our equals.  We often pity them, look down upon them, even judge them unfairly because of their unlearned ways.  But God sees them in a much different way.  He doesn't see them as "them" and "us".  He sees us all only as "us"; no distinction one from the other.  They have the same rights and privileges of equality as you and I have in the eyes of God.  And it is not God who keeps them from it.  It is the greed of a selfish world that is not willing to share its wealth with others. 

Billy Crystal said at the Oscars on Sunday evening something to the effect: "Isn't this wonderful: A bunch of millionaires in the same room giving each other trophies."  Unfortunately that is what it is like with many of our churches who care only for themselves.  As one person put it: "The main ministry of many churches is the maintenance their building."

God has blessed us with the gift of giving.  Let us give generously and anonymously; and let us celebrate this wonderful gift from God.

Blessings,

-Leo