A Cup of Generosity: How much is enough?
A Cup of Generosity is a monthly letter from Pastor Dana Karen Reardon and the Grand Canyon Synod Stewardship Team.
“I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need.”
Several years ago in my last congregation someone came to me with the question of whether Jesus advocated wealth redistribution. They had read something written by Jim Wallis and wanted me to confirm their mistrust of anything he had to say as he was much more liberal than they.
I suggested that Jesus wasn't a liberal; he was a radical. He told the Rich Young Man to sell all his possessions and give alms.
Religion has become very political but I don't believe that Jesus is a Democrat or a Republican. I believe he loves all of us and wants what is best for all of us. He wasn't telling the Rich Young Man to give away everything for the sake of the poor although Jesus has heart for the poor. He was telling the rich young man for his own soul's sake.
But the question always comes to me, "what am I willing to give up that everyone will have enough?". There are some churches that want to see your W-2s and recommend or even tell you how much you ought to give. In one sense that sounds really harsh because it's probably always more than you thought you wanted to give. But then you don't have to struggle with the question of what is enough and did I give my share?
Since in Lutheran churches we don't tend to tell people how much they ought to be putting in the offering plate or giving electronically or even giving to other charities. We are always left wondering if we have done enough.
One day when she was in her early twenties one of my daughters said to me, “I know our society doesn't work this way, Mom, but I always think if I have something and someone else needs it then it really is theirs.” We think we teach our children but she didn't get that from me. She got it straight from the heart of God. And God touched my heart through her.
It says that the rich young man went away sadly, but I was never sure whether he went away sad because he was going to give everything up and would miss it or he was sad because he couldn't do it.
I believe that if we are open to God's will, God will touch our hearts and we will know when it is enough and when it is okay to have some for ourselves and find that balance that Paul talks about.
“Lord, touch our hearts with the words of St. Paul or the words of Christ or Jim Wallis or whoever it takes that our hearts be opened and we can live life generously as we have received generously from you.”
