Giving Until It Hurts

Get One Thing Straight

Before addressing a problem that we have in modern Christian culture, I want to make sure those reading this don’t use this article as an excuse to not give financially. I recently had a friend recommend I read some writing from Jonathan Edwards on charitable giving and would recommend it to anyone struggling with a miserly spirit.

The early church practiced a radical generosity in a time when its members were in extreme hardship and poverty. Brothers and sisters in the faith were being hunted down by both Roman and Jewish leaders. Certainly, this would have made it significantly more difficult to engage with the wider world in trade for a lot of believers. Some of the old ways they would have gotten food (or the currency used to buy it) would no longer be safe. Certainly, it would become more difficult in some areas for Christians to own houses and land.

All of that added difficulty was compounding on top of the reasons all people struggle to provide for themselves such as disability or the loss of husbands and parents. The church was urged to care for the widows and orphans as a matter of remaining pure before God (James 1:27) and beyond that gave to collections for the church in other areas of the world that were under intense persecution. People were selling land to use the money to care for one another, and some of those who didn’t opened their homes for others to move into.

There is no excuse for Christians leaving the needs of those in their communities, and especially those in the church, without any means of getting basic requirements such as food, shelter, etc…

Boundless Giving

One thing I can be almost certain of is that if you attend any place that even calls itself the Christian church for a year or so, you will have heard about the blessedness of generosity and the evils of selfishness. We are encouraged with verses like the following:

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

It is wonderful that these examples of faithful generosity are recorded to spur us to give even when we’re all scraped a bit thin. We should never withhold aid that we can give to someone truly in need, especially a Christian brother or sister, on the grounds that it’s something we “might need later”. Even humanist congregations, which preach more about the “good” of certain public policies rather than the goodness of God lived out in individuals’ lives, teach some version of this!

However, that should be a clue that this doctrine may have become a bit imbalanced. The principle which led me to the name of this blog, in fact, involves the idea that there are always ditches on either side of the truth. However, should there be any limits on Christian giving?

The Part Not Often Taught

The scriptures, while promoting and encouraging giving without thought of holding back some for self, actually still does give some limits and boundaries. The boundaries are not on how much a Christian ought to give, but rather when they should refrain from giving.

Perhaps the most lengthy treatment of such considerations is found here:

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

1 Timothy 5:4-16

There are a few different considerations presented here which require more attention than typically given in Christian circles.

1. In the first verse, we see the responsibility of family to be the primary caregivers in someone’s life. It is important that we first impress upon our congregations the responsibility family has to care for their members. To step in as a congregation and offer aid to someone who has family members capable of providing care is to rob those members of their God given work of caring for their own family. We should first seek to motivate them to good works rather than rush to take their place.
2. Immediately following that we see that a widow who is living self-indulgently is considered dead even while she lives. Giving to a person who’s going to use it for their own self-destruction is the furthest thing from charity! You’re actually accessories to their demise. How often do self-destructive behaviors lead people to hardship and rather than make a greater sacrifice of time and probably some abuse from the person to help them deal with those behaviors, we do the apathetic thing and just throw more money at them? This is fueling the very fire that is consuming them.
3. Next, we see something which many may consider an obligation, but is actually a blessing to the one who receives the charity. This is that they encourage the recipient to still participate in serving others within the church. Just because an unmarried woman in their culture without parents didn’t have a lot of employment options, didn’t mean they were relegated to a life of meaningless consumption. Instead, an opportunity at a meaningful life of caring for others within the congregation is provided. We’re told why immediately after. Idol hands are the Devil’s playthings.

While these considerations are mentioned specifically in the context of widow ministry, there are other places in scripture where we find similar mention of the importance of recognizing that how we help people is just as important as that we help people.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

This may seem harsh in a time where we hear people promoting social benefits toward those who are unwilling to work. However, this is extremely important to understand. While toiling for food is part of the curse of the fall in Genesis 3, labor has always been part of a good life. God made Adam and immediately set him to work tending the garden and managing animals. Depriving people of involvement in good work is not to free them from the oppressiveness of labor, but rather to steal from them the opportunity to avoid idleness. It’s to consign others to merely existing rather than living.

Charity Is More Than Stuff

In our modern, secular culture, we are constantly being conditioned to consider human life as a matter of material existence. As you can see from the texts above, a Christian ought to be considering life a matter of more than simply existing. A life lived simply to prolong our existence is a life without good works prepared for us by God. Since God is the purpose of human life, it is a life without purpose.

Because life is more than stuff, charity must be giving in more ways than just the material. For one who needs a job, the best thing someone could give them is the opportunity to work. For one who is unwilling to work, tough love that drives them to a willingness is the greatest gift they could receive.

Rather than the well practiced apathy of this godless world, which claims the best thing we can do is keep sinking wealth into the bottomless pit of self-indulgence, we have been called to practice a love that gives of our time and efforts as well. If you really want to help others, get to know their situation and look for opportunities to help in the way that best serves them.

While sometimes people just need a meal to hold them over or a place to crash when housing is unavailable, many people in our society are being completely ignored because they need more than that! They need good council. The kind that is patient even when the person receiving it does not do so graciously and often may spit in the face of the one providing it.

Warning to the Receiver

This article has been largely for the givers. However, a message for the one who receives charity is needed as well. If you are receiving charity and the response you have is not one of humility and gratitude, it is not charity and it is not for your good!

Likely, life is feeling meaningless and painful. This is because you are avoiding the good works which God himself has laid up for you.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Perhaps you feel you have no opportunity to do more. If this is the case, be sure to present that as your main need rather than the financial difficulties which come from not having work. Don’t let people off the hook by throwing some more financial aid your way. Seek someone who will give you opportunities to serve others, and so provide for yourself. Soon, you may even have the means to care for others as well!