Parenting: Extravagant Giving

When my daughter Erin was in high school, she traveled with our church youth group during the summer to Juarez, Mexico on a mission's trip. The group was there to work with the children in a very impoverished area of the city. Erin told of little boys who played in the neighborhood wearing only their "skivvies." She and her friends dubbed them the "Underwear Gang"! As their week ended, the children with whom they'd been came together for one last event. Some of the children brought gifts to give in appreciation. One little girl sought out Erin and presented her with a small, worn stuffed animal. It was obvious to Erin that this was the little girl's prized possession, yet she wanted Erin to have it as an expression of her thanks. This child who had so little practiced extravagant giving. My child who had a roomful of stuffed animals back home was humbled. More than a decade has passed, and Erin still has that precious gift as a reminder of liberal, heart-felt giving from one who had so few possessions.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus teaches his disciples the principle of extravagant giving. Many people were throwing money into the offering box, with the wealthy making large contributions. In the midst of this display of giving, a poor widow approached and put in two small coins, the equivalent of two cents. In our economy and in theirs, that just wasn't much money; hardly worth the effort and hardly worth noticing. But, here's what Jesus had to say about her offering: "All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all" (Mark 12:44, The Message). 

Often, the most powerful lessons that we learn come from what the world considers insignificant and not worth our notice. I am still moved by the story of the child giving my daughter her most precious toy. Her giving like that of the poor widow in Jesus's day humbles me and causes me to reassess my own giving and what it means to "give extravagantly." 

Some people like the wealthy in Mark 12 give to be seen of men. The Bible tells us that if we give so we can earn recognition and praise from those around us that we have received our reward (Matthew 6:2). Our giving isn't meant to be a means of self-promotion; we are to be "secret" in giving and allow God to provide the reward (Matthew 6:4).

Others give grudgingly. We give because we know it's something we're "supposed to do," but we sure don't like it. We may be fearful that if we give, we won't have what we need. My grandmother use to say that God owns all the cattle on the hill (Psalm 50:10) and all the 'taters in the hill. The point is this, God owns everything; we don't. He knows our needs and will supply them (Philippians 4:19). We are to give freely from what we have (Matthew 10:8b), and we are to do so cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:7)! God wants us to trust Him to the point that we can willingly and happily give everything away knowing full well that He will give back to us all we need and then some (Luke 6:38).

The Bible is rich with accounts of people who God required to step out in faith, giving their all to serve His purposes (e.g., the widow who fed Elijah - I Kings 17:8-24; the little boy who supplied the loaves and fishes that fed the multitude - John 6:8-10). Their faith and obedience were rewarded.
 
All of us have a place of need - a perceived shortage - from which we are asked to give. For some of us it may be our monetary resources; for others, our need may be represented by our lack of time or possessions or even our selves. God asks us to be generous, especially in those places where we believe we have so little, so that He can in turn bless us with His abundance and develop in us his character.

God gave his all, his only Son, who gave his all that you and I might be redeemed (John 3:16; Galatians 1:4). God wants us to learn the principle of extravagant giving, the joy of giving our all in service to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving your all so that we might know you and spend eternity with you. Thank you for your provision and for your promise to meet all our needs. Thank you for opportunities to serve you through giving. We pray for a willing heart that will give extravagantly by giving our all to you. In your name we pray. Amen