"We don't want a donation" - is that good news? |
Dec 17, 2009 |
No one wants to be characterized as a Scrooge, but what do you do when a nonprofit you've been giving to suddenly says, "We don't want you to give us money!"?
Oddly, this is the quandary I'm in as we speak (or more aptly, as I write). Here's the short story...I received a year-end "appeal" letter from a ministry I've given to in the past. I say appeal letter because that's typically what they send this time of the year, but in the two page letter, they made it very clear that they were not making a plea for a donation and in fact, that they were going to cease asking me for money ever again! Wow, that's great news...or is it???
It SEEMS that it's good news and the letter was written celebrating that fact, but I confess I wasn't seeing it this way and I wasn't celebrating.
In fact, I had the distinct impression that this ministry assumed my giving was something I didn't care to necessarily do, but did out of obligation, so now they're letting me off the hook. But, that's not why I give, and I would bet that's not why many of their champions gave. When you talk with people who have learned to give generously they will tell you one of their most enjoyable activities is being able to give to causes they love. It's a way to be part of something bigger than yourself. It's a way to express your faith and trust in God's provision. It's a way to use the resources God has entrusted to you in the way He directs, and as a result experience great joy like that of the Macedonians who gave out of their extreme poverty.
So back to the letter...here's the big question I was left with...now what?? Truth is, most ministries (including this one) fail to provide opportunities for people to get involved besides giving. Now that they don't need my money, what more is it I can do? Keep reading their quarterly newsletter? I suppose, but that's a pretty shallow involvement.
Here's the thing, as Christians, giving is a part of who we are in Christ. It grows our dependence on God's provision while still allowing us to be a part of amazing things He's doing all around us. Now, while I'd say they need to have other opportunites for involvement besides just giving, I'm going to focus on just the giving for this post.
There are several Transformational Giving (TG) principles that highlight why giving is so important to the believer, and it would do us good as ministry leaders to remember these. The first principle is that "Every act of giving is first and foremost a statement about the faithfulness of God." When the opportunity to give is taken away, we miss out on opportunities for growing our faith.
Another principle comes right out of scripture itself which says "It is better to give than receive." Paul says this in Acts 20:35 as he's talking to the Ephesian leaders about how to care for the church and how to be examples in giving freely to those who were in need and those who were “weak.”
The letter to Philippians gives us great insight into how Paul viewed receiving gifts from others and what this act of giving was doing for the giver. Phil 4:10 he says, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”
Then he says in Phil 4:17, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” Paul was more interested in the spiritual fruit that comes when you exercise giving. He was saying, “I am glad to get your gift, not for what it does for me, but for what it does for you. I want fruit to abound to your account. I want you to receive this credit in heaven."
This is what TG is all about — being infused with God's grace as we give to the causes He puts before us, and growing more and more in the image of Christ. May we continually find ways to present opportunities for champions to "show their concern" and grow in their faith as they practice generosity.
So, I ask you, is it a good thing that I can no longer give toward a cause I care about???
