Jesus, What Am I To Give? (Giving VI)

What we do with our money—and, really, with everything we have—matters. If prayer is a conversation with Jesus about what “we’re up to today,” as Dallas Willard often said, then we should be regularly asking God what we’re up to, together, with our money and our resources. If we believe in the Missio Dei—the reality that God is out ahead of us and that He’s “prepared good works in advance, that we should walk in them” —then the pressure is not on us to make anything happen.[1] It’s God work to save the world. However, it is our responsibility to seek out and discern what Jesus is doing and to follow him, giving as he prompts us and leads us.

There are so many ways to give. We have already looked at money and forgiveness and hospitality. Indeed, listening, as part of our hospitality, is an expression of The Generous Life. So is asking questions and drawing out the stories of our neighbors, that they would be seen and known, just as God desires for them. What about giving by talking, sharing things about ourselves that we might otherwise keep hidden? This, too, is an expression of generosity. And we can give by naturally demonstrating the supernatural, asking our neighbor if we can pray for them when some part of us wants to hide and say nothing at all. And by telling our story of faith in Jesus and our experience of him.

Furthermore, consider how you’re spending your energy. Is there anywhere where you’re wasting it? Perhaps by saying “yes” to some commitment, even to a good thing, that will keep you from saying “yes” to something that’s even more important? Perhaps by grumbling and complaining?[2] It’s not that grumbling doesn’t make sense; of course it does—there’s a lot about life that causes frustration and heartache. It’s just that pouring energy into complaint is like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it. It demands an endless supply. Ultimately unforgiveness, too, is a black hole, a huge waste of energy. It depletes our resources and our reserves. And indulging lust or pornography or any other addiction costs us dear time that could be redirected elsewhere. Time spent in self-judgment and self-hatred is a waste, too. After all, God’s Spirit doesn’t lead us out of destructive behaviors because He’s angry or disappointed with us, but because He has an abundant, productive, joyful life in mind for us. He wants us to participate in the divine dance of God’s love and generosity, together with Him.

We don’t need to feel anxiety about using our time and energy and money well. If we are following Jesus, the load becomes easy and the burden light.[3] However, we should treat each resource as a precious gift which can be directed either toward a Generous Life or away from it. As part of your prayer life, consider this question: “Jesus, what would you have me give today?” Somewhere around “Let your Kingdom come” and “Give me today my daily bread,” it makes sense to ask how the Reign of God might come through us, or how we might use our resources to make it known.

Indeed, Jesus, make us aware of all we have to give, and how, and when, and where to give it, whether it’s time or energy or listening or money, that we might live into the very life of God.

This is the sort of prayer to be made with open hands, signs and symbols of our willingness and desire to live into this question, by God’s grace, until it becomes a posture which we never depart.

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[1] Ephesians 2:8-9.

[2] Remember that sorrow and lament, which the Scripture consistently condones, is altogether different from grumbling and complaint.

[3] Matthew 11:28.