Sacrificial Giving
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:42 pm
Consider the following:
A. There is a Christian man whose total income is below the poverty line. For this example, let's say he gives 10% of all his income. He has a very modest lifestyle, but is completely satisfied, that is, he has every possession he desires. In his mind he lacks nothing; there isn't any material thing he wishes he could have. All his needs for housing, food, and clothes are met.
B. Another Christian man is middle income. He gives 15% of all his income. He has a moderate "nest egg" he is saving for retirement or for his wife's needs if anything should happen to him, as he has no life insurance. His lifestyle is not extravagant; he has some "toys": small boat, small camp trailer, etc. He would like to have a small motorhome instead of the camp trailer, but could not give as much as he does if he bought the motorhome. He accepts what he has and is relatively satisfied.
C. Our third example is a wealthy Christian man. He gives 50% of all his income. He has a very large and beautiful home, a huge motorhome as large as a bus, a very expensive boat, and drives a Lexus, among other possessions. He very much desired a vacation home in Aspen, CO, which would cost more than the home of the middle income Christian. It was his dream but he gave up this idea because he too would have to cut back on his giving.
Did the poor man give less because he sacrificed nothing he wanted in his giving? Or does he get no credit for his modest desires? Is the wealthy man giving the most because of the amount of money, because he sacrificed the most, or both? Or is he discredited because he desires the most and has the most? What about the middle income guy? He is relatively satisfied. Should he "give until it hurts? Is he actually already giving more than the poor man?
Or should all three have the same minimal desires and thus the ones who desire the most are the most discredited?
Comments please; I'm studying about Christians and wealth.
Thanks, Homer
P.S. Was just reading comments at another site; some of those folks are mean!
A. There is a Christian man whose total income is below the poverty line. For this example, let's say he gives 10% of all his income. He has a very modest lifestyle, but is completely satisfied, that is, he has every possession he desires. In his mind he lacks nothing; there isn't any material thing he wishes he could have. All his needs for housing, food, and clothes are met.
B. Another Christian man is middle income. He gives 15% of all his income. He has a moderate "nest egg" he is saving for retirement or for his wife's needs if anything should happen to him, as he has no life insurance. His lifestyle is not extravagant; he has some "toys": small boat, small camp trailer, etc. He would like to have a small motorhome instead of the camp trailer, but could not give as much as he does if he bought the motorhome. He accepts what he has and is relatively satisfied.
C. Our third example is a wealthy Christian man. He gives 50% of all his income. He has a very large and beautiful home, a huge motorhome as large as a bus, a very expensive boat, and drives a Lexus, among other possessions. He very much desired a vacation home in Aspen, CO, which would cost more than the home of the middle income Christian. It was his dream but he gave up this idea because he too would have to cut back on his giving.
Did the poor man give less because he sacrificed nothing he wanted in his giving? Or does he get no credit for his modest desires? Is the wealthy man giving the most because of the amount of money, because he sacrificed the most, or both? Or is he discredited because he desires the most and has the most? What about the middle income guy? He is relatively satisfied. Should he "give until it hurts? Is he actually already giving more than the poor man?
Or should all three have the same minimal desires and thus the ones who desire the most are the most discredited?
Comments please; I'm studying about Christians and wealth.
Thanks, Homer
P.S. Was just reading comments at another site; some of those folks are mean!