Better to Give

by Bob Setzer
At our most recent Wednesday night’s conference (January 5), we did some celebrating. The celebrating was spontaneous and deeply felt as we received the news our church ended 2010 in the black. 2010 was a difficult year financially for many people in our church and community. As one person at conference observed, “It’s tough out there.” But despite the trying economic climate, our church rose to the challenge of vanquishing our deficit and starting the new year on a firm, financial footing.

Our budget gifts for 2010 totaled $684,665.19 with income exceeding expenses by a little over thirty-five hundred dollars. Of the $684,665.19 given to the mission and ministry of our church, 10.1% of those receipts (a tithe) was directed to missions beyond the local church, primarily through our partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In addition, another $47,032.52 was given to special missions causes such as Haiti Relief, Habitat for Humanity, the Crisis Closet, the Liberian Student Fund, Ricks Institute, the Circle of Hope, and more besides.

Okay. Enough with the facts and figures, lest the number-challenged like myself go numb trying to follow the discussion. Suffice it to say that our members gave faithfully and sacrificially, even during a recession, because for them the work of Christ and his church was not discretionary spending, but rather a top priority. Thus, in a year when many churches were forced to cut back vital ministries and even downsize staffs, the ministry we hold in trust was not compromised. Due to the generosity of God’s people, we were able to honor our commitments and fulfill our obligations. And for that, I am deeply, deeply grateful.

While giving a commencement address at McGill University in Toronto, the renowned novelist Rudyard Kipling exhorted the beaming, bright-eyed graduates to pursue higher values than mere wealth, position and personal glory. “Someday,” Kipling warned, “you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you truly are!”

As Christians, we have met the man who cares for none of those things: his name is Jesus. As we follow him, he teases our minds and hearts away from acquiring more and more stuff and instills within us a new passion for caring about others. In the process, we are transformed from mindless consumers into reckless givers. Money becomes a means to an end, an opportunity for serving God and neighbor, rather than an idol clung to with fanatical zeal and soul-crushing devotion.

Yes, Jesus lived and taught “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). What a privilege to belong to a church that really believes that is true.