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2008-01-22 issue:

God’s faithfulness, promises and giving

Grace and Truth column

by Elaine Bryant

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In 2007, an awe-inspiring demonstration of God’s faithfulness in regard to promises was manifested in February on a Sunday afternoon at the Englewood Mennonite Church in Chicago. During a celebration of Pastor Robert Spicer’s completion of one year’s service—which started out with a break-in and theft from his car—the guest minister from Pastor Spicer’s home church gave a sidebar to his prepared message from John 14. He broke into that message to speak about Luke 6:38: “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom” (NKJV).



In closing remarks just before the benediction, the guest minister encouraged members from his visiting congregation to give a special donation directly to me. He started with an amount that covered what had been spent the previous week toward the congregation’s needs and expenses for the celebration. His congregation’s members and others present came forward to give donations—in addition to an earlier offering—that literally filled my hands and pockets.

That response was recognized by many present as a demonstrative message about God’s faithfulness to the promises in the words of the Lord Jesus. In this case, the message was given in order to encourage generosity and a willingness to give sacrificially by those who have more than some, as well as those who don’t have much. Space doesn’t permit giving account of all of 2007’s demonstrations of God’s faithfulness.

I give an account of some Bible-based messages about giving and associated benefits that came to mind during and after the Sunday worship before Christmas Day. Second Corinthians 8 speaks about giving when we have an abundance or surplus for the benefit of those who have an insufficient amount to demonstrate God’s equity, love and provision for and among fellow believers.

Second Corinthians 9 speaks of reaping “bountifully [with blessing]” for those “who sow bountifully.” That chapter also speaks of God’s love for those who give cheerfully (hilariously) and God’s ability “to make all grace abound toward” those who so give, as well as those “having all sufficiency in all things and an abundance for every good work.”

And there is the message given on that Sunday before Christmas, through Englewood’s pastor, on John 3:16, that links giving with God’s love for humankind.

God gave the Son, because of love and the desire for humankind to have everlasting life. The Son came and gave his life because of love for his Heavenly Father and humankind and so that the comforting, helping Spirit of Truth could come, stay with, indwell, lead and enable human beings to love and give like the Father and the Son.

Whether you are first nation, Native Americans, descendants of Anglo-Europeans, descendants of Africans who were enslaved in the Americas or those who are part of other ethnic groups that have immigrated to the United States, on the basis of the promises of God through the Lord Jesus in Luke 6:38—for benefit of you, your church and humankind—I urge you to make 2008 a year to start, resume or continue giving hilariously—not just money but time, yourself and your talents.

I urge this because giving is a Godlike action associated with Godlike love that includes even enemies and those who despitefully use or persecute us, and in the words from a song: “You can’t beat God giving / For just as sure as you are living / And the Lord is in heaven on high / The more you give, the more he gives to you.”

Elaine Bryant is prayer network coordinator for Illinois Mennonite Conference.

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