By Linda Wegner
Cup of tea in hand, I sat on the front porch yesterday afternoon and thought about Proverbs 25:14 (New King James Version). My musings on this verse took me in two seemingly opposite directions: donating and the weather.
鈥淲hoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain,鈥� Solomon warned his son.
The matter of donating money to charity has always been subject of discussion and sadly it鈥檚 also been fraught with emotions ranging from self-glorification to condemnation. That鈥檚 not what Solomon said nor are those the reactions what Jesus nor a host of others meant.
The first question, then, is this: how much of my time, talent, resources or money am I supposed to give to church or other charities? The simple answer is that in the New Testament we鈥檙e not commanded to give a certain amount. While many people use the tithe (ten percent) standard, others choose other options and while some donate to religious organizations, others contribute to other needy causes. Where and how much are not the topics of Solomon鈥檚 admonition, one鈥檚 attitude is.
Frankly, it鈥檚 more a matter of how much I selfishly withhold rather than about how much I give; He鈥檚 pleased with our offerings, no matter how large or small, when they are given out of honesty, thanksgiving and humility.
Today there鈥檚 a faint promise of rain, complete with lots of clouds. We need the moisture but it鈥檚 also a great reminder that while grey skies don鈥檛 necessarily produce rain, so ostentatious giving neither waters the soul nor blesses the Lord.
If you have the money, give liberally; if not, give what you can because it鈥檚 not the amount, it鈥檚 the heart that makes the difference.
鈥淣ow Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how [not what] the people put money into the treasury鈥�.鈥澛� Mark 12:41
