Giving - By Paul Munro

Giving is quite a broad topic, but you would mostly assume it refers to finances. What that tells me, is that our finances are (by nature) the hardest thing to give. I've never had anyone question me or put me down for giving my time to volunteer. I've definitely never had anyone question the fact that I give my old clothes to the Salvo's - but quite a few times I have been almost interrogated about why I give my money to a church. Or why I send my money overseas when people need it just as much here. Or why I drive a nice car - like, shouldn't Christians be driving Datsuns and Corollas, and nothing newer than 1994? That one's not really relevant, it just annoys me when people live with a poverty-mindset and think it's what God wants.

The funny thing is the people that seem to question me are the ones who give nothing. Unless for some personal gain, they don't give of their time, their knowledge, and definitely not their money. I believe it is in our human nature (the part of our character that is impacted on by society) to not give. TV Ads are constantly telling us to spend, Banks are telling us to save (but mostly spend!) and everyone else is telling us to invest in shares, create super and build wealth.

Unless your parents were givers, and instilled in you to give, a part of us (or all of us) wants to hang on to every hard-earned dollar we have, or spend it on something that satisfies or entertains us.

GIVING IS A MINDSET. The foundation of that mindset is FAITH. When we limit our thinking we limit our capacity to give.

Faith enlarges our concept of what we can give. Naturally, we want to play it safe - we want to pay the bills, fill the car up, and work out what we can then AFFORD to give. Faith says 'I'm going to give this much - I'm going to stretch myself and believe that at the end of the week there is still food on the table, the school fees are paid and I'm still going to be able to take my wife out for dinner.

We are so blessed in this country and even in this part of the country. Don't get me wrong, we have all worked hard to get to where we are, but with blessing comes the challenge to stretch yourself further than you ever have and rise to obedience in giving what we are called to.

Society has it the wrong way around. The world tells us to BUILD WEALTH - to keep working (it never ends). We get to a point where we think we will be happy but we're not - we're always striving for more more more. It also tells us to GIVE COMFORTABLY - to give an amount you can safely afford (whether it be by sponsoring a child, tithing or whatever).

FAITH tells us to build wealth to a point we are comfortable but know that our identity and provision are in Christ. We should, instead, be constantly working to build our GIVING, always striving for the next level.

God will give seed to the sower. I don't go looking for opportunities to give - I believe that the opportunities are already there, you just tend to notice them when you're living wholly dependant on God and you listen to the Holy Spirit.

Come back to the mindset - You are using your head and your heart. You're not giving mindlessly, it takes effort, committment and faith to stretch yourself in giving - But this mindset seems to flow into your whole life and brings joy and builds your faith. Once you have a real grasp on how giving works in your life, you can't go back.