This afternoon Charlyne and I had an opportunity to witness in action the Christmas benevolence work of another Christian organization. Those caring people had chosen to help one family in need. Leaders of that organization had taken a large basket and the people involved in that ministry had filled it with cash and donated gift cards. The basket was then sealed with cellophane and a bow. When finished, it was an impressive sight.
This is not about helping a ministry, but about a ministry helping others. (If you want to read about helping a ministry, I will be glad to oblige, but not here.)
Many times when a love offering is taken for someone, people sanitize the results by depositing the money and handing a check to the recipient. At the very least, currency is straightened and arranged by denomination, but that was not the case with what we saw today. It was strictly what they gave is what you get, and the results were impacting.
Christmas is a tine for giving, but too often it becomes about giving to me, instead of giving by me.
I looked at a photo of that benevolence basket and wondered about each bill. Were the twenty dollar bills, creased in the center placed there by an executive with bills to spare, or did some of them represent sacrificial giving by one struggling family wanting to help another struggling family? Did some of the crumpled dollar bills come from deep within a youngster's pocket, where they were being saved for something special? I wondered which bills had been dropped in by a teen, instead of going toward their first car?
Had something in the basket been dropped there by a couple, after praying about what to give, and the Holy Spirit giving each spouse an identical amount? I wondered which bills were the widow's mite and had come from a cashed Social Security check?
Most likely a few of the bills had been given out of guilt. God is honored when we give, but there has never been enough money printed to pay the price for one sin. That is why God gave His son. If our Heavenly Father gave, should we not do likewise.
What have you given this Christmas? No, not what checks have you written, but what cash have you given directly to help someone else? It is not too late and people who could use your help are all around you.
If you have read any of my books about travel, you know how I like to take extra five dollar bills with me. I encourage you to try this during Christmas week. Be on the lookout for the person putting a dollar's worth of gas in their vehicle. You may see someone putting items back when checking out at the grocery, or asking about fast food prices and then declining an item. Do you realize what a difference your dollars could make, given with a comment such as, "God told me to give you this." One day when we all reach Heaven, we might be hearing about money we dropped into a basket or handed to a stranger.
God owns all the money, but he has entrusted a bit of it to each of us. Together let's use it for His glory by directly helping others at Christmas.
