COURAGEOUS GIVING

One of our innate human fears is that we will not have enough. For those who have experienced financial hardship or been deprived of the resources necessary for life, that survival impulse can be all the stronger. But enough is also a slippery term, difficult to define, and often a measure that is more relative than fixed. So, giving is an act of courage, particularly when we give to a degree that feels like it might threaten our own financial well-being or viability. Even when we give from what feels like extra resources we have at the moment, we are pushing back against the instinct to self-preservation, the fear that we might not have enough at some point in the future. This is why giving is such a valuable practice for a life of faithful courage.

In the preceding verses, Jesus was talking about how His followers should choose to respond to those who were oppressing them.

The violence and exploitation that Jesus described were part of the daily experiences of many of His listeners. In this case, a generous response was an act of resistance, creatively and non-violently seeking to overcome evil by doing good (see Romans 12:19–21). Similarly, generous giving is an act of resistance against the temptations of our culture to consumerism and accumulation and our assumption that our security is found in things. With practice, generosity can become an attitude for every aspect of our lives.

So, we need to learn how to give intentionally, thoughtfully, and regularly but also randomly and generously when specific needs arise.

Both kinds of giving will push back against our fears, the culture around us, and the things that can so easily gain a hold over us.

Both kinds of giving can also be valuable for helping someone who really needs the help we give.