Giving that We May Flourish

One study marks the number at thirty percent. Another denotes it as more than 90,000 hours. These numbers reflect the span of time which the average person will give toward their work in a lifetime. Work, especially that to which we sense a particular calling, provides fulfillment to our lives. There is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when our work provides for a need or realizes a greater good. Nearly every profession offers this reward for hard work. The writer of Proverbs states it quite well— “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” (Proverbs 13:4). Of course, there are other rewards for work. Friendships are developed and fostered through our occupations. Challenges which serve to stretch our intellect and skillsets are often given us through our work. For followers of Jesus Christ, we understand that every task toward which we put our effort is to be done unto Christ— “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).

However, in addition to all these rewards from our work, we most certainly work so that we might get paid. This money supplies our need and those of our family. This money supplies a resource by which we might enjoy good things in this life. But if these hard-earned dollars are spent only on us, it can have a corroding effect upon us. The wealth which seems to bring us delight, if hoarded only upon our selfishness, will in fact begin to putrefy our souls. The geographical landscape of Israel provides a prime example for this truth.

There are two major bodies of water in the land where Jesus walked. One is the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful lake 13 miles long and 7 miles wide filled with fish and surrounded by lush foliage. The other body of water is the Dead Sea, 50 miles long and 11 miles wide, the shoreline of which is 1300 feet below sea level. Seven million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. The saline or salt content of the water of the Dead Sea ranges from 26-35%, making it 10 times saltier than the oceans of the world. There’s no seaweed or plants of any kind in or around the water. There are no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creatures living in or near the water. As a matter of fact, what you’ll see on the shores of the Sea is white, crystals of salt covering EVERYTHING. According to extremescience.com, fish accidentally swimming into the waters from one of the several freshwater streams that feed the Sea are killed instantly, their bodies quickly coated with a preserving layer of salt crystals and then tossed onto shore by the wind and waves. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea are fed by the Jordan River There is really only one difference between these two bodies of water, really only one thing that causes the Sea of Galilee to be beautiful and alive while the Dead Sea is barren and lifeless. The Sea of Galilee has an outlet; the Dead Sea does not! Water flows through the Sea of Galilee. Water flows into the Dead Sea but not out!

As this geographical lesson illustrates, we are all made to be a conduit of God’s goodness! As He pours His mercy into our lives, we are to then share that mercy with others. In matters related to our resources, the local church is given as the outlet whereby believers can give of themselves (2 Corinthians 8-9). Every week (and now with the inception of online giving, every day), we have the opportunity to give of our resources so that we might share God’s goodness. How exactly does our church utilize the giving of its people? Consider the following examples:

1. The Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries

We weekly support this ministry which supplies for the needs of hundreds of orphans and thousands of families seeking professional counseling. While the State of Alabama foster care system reports that 4% of children in its care will receive any post-secondary education, the ABCH reports that 80% of its children will receive a post-secondary degree—completely debt-free! More importantly, these children’s eternities are changed forever by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Baptist Campus Ministries

We weekly support evangelism and outreach efforts to every collegiate campus in the state of Alabama. Last year, more than 45,000 students from all over the world were impacted by this mission. These ministries reported 921 professions of faith, with 1,754 students involved in weekly Bible studies and discipleship groups. BCM continues to be the largest evangelical ministry to college/university students in North America.

3. Disaster Relief

When you’ve seen a disaster on the news in the last 50 years, what you may not have seen is the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers who were already on the scene—and they remained long after news cameras left town. As the third-largest disaster response team in the nation, this network of state-based volunteers teams does more than just clean up; they bring the healing of Christ to those whose lives have been shattered.

These provide just three examples of how our regular giving through the local church is being used to help the hurting, share the gospel, and ultimately give glory to God. When you give your hard-earned resources to the church, it is making a difference for the kingdom of God! And remember, since everything really belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1), we can know that God will meet our needs and allow us to be a part of His redemption story! Let us be faithful to give…regularly!

Jason