Before (or after) Giving on Tuesday

“Give Me All Your Money”

Ben Dockery | Est. 3 minutes

Three things to keep in mind on Giving Tuesday.

“Give me all your money.” Those were the first words of my sermon from Exodus 25 earlier this year. That wasn’t the point of the sermon, but I wanted to own a feeling that people (me included) have when pastors start talking about money and we could relax.

On #GivingTuesday, your feeds and inbox will be flooded with requests. While I think it is a sign of health in society (cheers to a day to give instead of receive), it can be overwhelming to know where to give and how much. In Exodus 25, Moses asked people to give an offering for the tabernacle project – I don’t know if it was a Tuesday – but here are some things I learned.

1) Give what you have been given

God starts with a promise to his people after delivering them from slavery in Egypt. They responded by saying, we will do all you ask of us. You are God, we are not, you tell us what to do.

Later, Moses asks for everyone to give something for the new project. His list is specific and varies from elite and rare items to more ordinary: gold, silver and fine linen, blue and purple colored yarn. --- down to oil for lamps and acacia wood (something that grew in plenty in the desert so all Israelites could give something.)

You might be asking yourself, where did they get the rare materials? Weren’t they slaves – how would they have gold and fine linen? On the way out of Egypt, God explains, "On your way out, you will ask and “plunder the Egyptians (Ex. 3:22).” They did – and they left Egypt with wealth.

God just gave them the very thing he asked from them. While lots of things are different in this story than our lives – this is one of the realities that remains the same. You are a steward of your time, talent, treasure, not an owner of it.

God provides you with everything he asks of you. He is not out of money and needs a loan from Israel (then or now); He owns it all. Remember, you give from what you have been given.

2) Give to participate in God’s work

The story in Exodus 25 results in people giving more than was needed (and all the pastor’s said, Amen!). Here’s the point: Because all of Israel participated in the offering for the tabernacle, they saw their gifts when they showed up at the tabernacle.

It was a buildable, portable worship facility with a variety of functions. People who brought the lumber would see it framing the facility – those who donated materials would see the large curtain walls. The folks who gave gold might catch a glimpse of a lampstand. If you dropped off oil, you might smell the oil lamps burning… in each case, you are reminded God is using your stuff. You get to participate in his project. Not bad.

3) Give freely, cheerfully, and generously

In Exodus 25, Moses uses the language, “everyone whose heart is stirred” should give. Money follows heart and heart follows money. Your heart directs your resources – you spend (and save) on what you love. Also, when you give or spend money – you shape the kind of person you are becoming. Jesus makes this clear in a sermon.

It is good for our hearts to remember we give freely – not from shame or to remove guilt.

The New Testament says it this way during an offering collection, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) So, we also give cheerfully.

When it comes to generously or how much to give, C. S. Lewis is commonly quoted. He argues, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” (Mere Christianity)

In conclusion, you will sort through a potentially overwhelming number of requests today, remember this – give me all your money. Kidding - relax. Remember that you are holding God’s money and he is inviting you to participate in His work in small or large ways by cheerfully giving your resources.