Against Giving????? *

We all are taught or
instructed to give. Giving is considered as one of the noble act. We often ask
questions like, how much I have to give. Or to which project I should help?

These questions pose an
idea as if we are the owners of our resources. Who can give? Only a person who
owns can give.

Human beings, according to
the Bible, are stewards. “Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and
stewards of God’s mysteries” 1 Corinthians 4.1. Steward means manager. One who
acts on behalf of someone else. A manager has no right tot act according to
his/her plan. He/she is entrusted to fulfill the wish and plan of the owner.
Managers act in the interest of the owners.

In that sense, are we
acting as owners or as stewards? Do we own anything? The way we do with our
resources often reflects as if we are owners of everything.

The Bible teaches us that
God is the owner of everything. We are mere managers or stewards for Him.

The biblical God is a
giving God. God spends his resources for the benefit of others. Even He was
willing to spend/spare His Son for us. We ought to spend all our resources for
human benefit and for the glory of God. The nature of God is to give
abundantly. We are also expected to give abundantly.

Therefore don’t give as per our plan, give
according to God’s plan, like the widow’s mite. She gave out of her poverty. “She
out of her poverty has put in all she had to live.” Luke 21.4

* I am indebted to The Rev. Francis H. Wade for the title.