Spending Like a Macedonian

Myself posted by Hannah Farver on 01/11/10; 19 comments

While staring at the crumpled paper that littered our living room floor—leftovers from unwrapped Christmas gifts—I winced to consider what others were doing at that moment. As my part of Texas celebrated its first white Christmas in 80 years, I wondered how many others were struggling in the extra-cold weather to keep their houses warm. Considering the numbers I'd seen lining in front of our local food kitchen, it wasn't far-fetched to guess that some nearby were suffering.giving

If I were completely honest, I'd tell you that I'm not in the habit of thinking very often about the needy. And even if I do acknowledge those around me, I normally limit myself to daydreaming. I think, "One day, once I finish school and have money to spend, I'll give to an orphanage or sponsor a child. Hey, if I get enough money, I'll sponsor as many kids as I can!" The more I imagine, the more the idea of giving becomes a part of my distant, fantasy future.

Less often do I think of giving in terms like "here" and "now."

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul talks about the Macedonian believers who, in "their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty," offered "a wealth of generosity." Even though they were suffering themselves, the Macedonians gave above and beyond the call of duty. They didn't wait until they were in a "financially secure" situation or until they could give out of their abundance. What they offered came from sacrificial, utterly generous hearts.

We also find that, even though the Macedonians might have been considered impulsive at the time, their giving was an act of wisdom. As Randy Alcorn pointed out in his book The Treasure Principle, "When the Lord returns, what will happen to all the money sitting in bank accounts, retirement programs, estates, and foundations? It will burn like wood, hay, and straw, when it could have been given in exchange for gold, silver, and precious stones. Money that could have been used to feed the hungry and fulfill the great commission will go up in smoke."

That's a convicting thought for people like me, who find it easier to drop a few dollars at Starbucks than into a Salvation Army bucket. Buying a latte or another book seems to be no big deal—until I consider how else it could be spent.

Just think ...
  • $7.77 (roughly the price of one large latte and a pastry) can provide clean drinking water for one person in India for 30 years. (SowerofSeeds.org)
  • $11 (the price of a movie ticket) can buy a rooster and hen for a needy family overseas. (Gospelforasia.org)
  • $50 can provide a loan to help a needy family to start their own business. (Worldvision.org)
  • And ... $1 can purchase a burger for the homeless woman on the corner.

With this is mind, I'm asking myself, in what ways can I change my spending habits in order that I may give more? In what areas am I holding back from giving to God? How can I glorify God with my personal finances?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Have you ever held a fundraiser for a worthwhile cause? Share your fundraising ideas! And do you have suggestions for other ways to serve the community? Let's pool our thoughts and brainstorm together.

Comments

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    Noelle
    Giving
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:20 am
    This is very inspiring. I will print that last section and put it on my bulletin board to remind me to think twice before spending God's money on things I don't need.
    Jesus is my KING!!!
    fundraising
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:43 am
    Well this past year, with God's incredible help and the incredible generousity of lots of friends and family, I was able to raise $700 for a well in India for clean water! It was so cool to be able to provide a village with something as simple as water... I was really blessed through it! And then the cool thing was, that one of the leaders in our VBS at our church wanted the kids at VBS to work on a project to raise money for wells in India too! So they were thinking that they would raise enough money for maybe one or two wells... but they raised enough money in 4 DAYS for SEVEN wells in India!!! WOW!!!! it was truly incredible to see God do something WAY bigger than I alone could do! It was truly beautiful to see the body of Christ working together!
    Steph
    thoughts
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9:12 am
    That is a really compelling post. Thank you for writing it. I have actually been facing this exact issue lately.

    The kingdom of God is so opposite the thinking of the world that it can be so tempting to save up money and such and not give it to help people - but at the same time we're supposed to be wise with what God has given us (and sometimes that does mean saving). It's a tough balance. I think we really have to follow God's leading. For example, if I were to say, "OOH, I need to give! I'm going to go spend my whole life's savings for a car and for college on helping people!" .... that might not be such a great choice. We need to listen to what God wants us to give.

    For example, lately I've felt God prodding my heart to sponsor a child with Compassion. My family already supports one, but I felt God calling me to do it on my own. So, after waiting a couple weeks to make sure He really was telling me that, I signed on to sponsor a 14-year-old boy. I'm excited about it.

    By the way - if anyone has never sponsored through Compassion, I really recommend it. It's a cool way to KNOW that you are actually impacting a specific person. You can pray for your child, send a picture of yourself, send them bookmarks and money for birthday and Christmas gifts, send them letters, and they even send you letters back (with handdrawn pictures and stuff). It's exciting and you know that they really appreciate your giving and that it's actually making a tangible difference in their lives!!! That's just my little plug for Compassion. ;)

    Anyways, my mom did warn me though - she was like, "That's great that you want to do that, honey, but you need to save for a car and for college right now. I don't know if this is a wise choice." I agree with her, but sometimes it's frustrating because my parents have lots of years of wisdom and they have also been burdened by the world and seen lots more things than I have, and I am a young, vision-full, excited about my faith type of girl, and I think there needs to be a balance between the two. Because sometimes God will ask us to do things that don't make sense at the time, and we need to follow His leading. Although my parents are Christians, they are usually not open to that. in some areas.

    But anyways. I've rambled long enough. :)
    Aster
    Trip to India
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 10:29 am
    Recently I went on a three week trip with my family to India and it was really heartbreaking to see how little people have. There were hundreds of beggars and homeless people and many were under the age of 5. It makes us realize that even though we maybe don't have all the nicest clothes or best car we really have a lot to be thankful for. Some of the people didn't even clothes because they were so poor. It was terrible to think that thousands of those people will die without ever knowing the hope of christ..... really kinda puts things into perspective......
    Alyssa
    giving instead of getting
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 2:24 pm
    God has shown me alot last year about giving to others and now i am addicted to it lol. I really find giving to others is so much better than recieving. I went on a mission trip to Nepal summer 09. My tem and I helped out at an orphanage for about two months. While we were there we built a wall around the boys bathroom and other odd jobs. We also got to spend a lot of time with the kids playinmg and talking. I was amazed at how happy it made me feel to give to people who had less than I did. I learned a lot about helping others and I am now going to go to a missionary college BMW Bible ministeries world wide and help every summer for 3 years. god really showed me that I need to think about others and not myself. During the third year I will be able to help in a country of my choice for a year.
    Betsy
    Alyssa
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 3:50 pm
    Could you post the web address for the missionary college (is it called Bible Ministries World Wide?) that you are going to? Thanks!
    Hirut
    Giving
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 5:06 pm
    This past summer with the help of my friends and family I was able to make bracet and sell them. The profit goes to sponsoring children in Ethiopia, a country I am from. We called it Bracelet to Blessing. We also sell donuts at school for the sMe cause. It so great to have such amazing friends that are that cool. Together we can do so much. God sure did blessed us. If anybody reading this wants to buy bracets look us up at group called Bracelet to Blessing on facebook.
    Nevada Sky
    missionary at home
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:17 pm
    Every Christmas we get a catalog and each pick a certain amount to send to people in third world countries. The money goes for fruit trees, goats, clothing, food, education and a variety of other things. I've always wanted to go on a mission trip but even though I can't right now, it's nice to know I can be a missionary at home. Thank you for this blog, it was a great reminder that we should never take God's blessings for granted.
    God Bless!
    mary
    WOW :O
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:02 pm
    That was so amazing i can't believe that only 7 bucks can buy sum 1 water for 30 years that is amazing!My family has a compassion child and i also reccomend it is awesome the child writes letters all the time and draws us pictures it really is great!!:D
    Elaina
    Re
    on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:05 pm
    Thanks for showing me some practical ways to give! You hear people all the time say "give to the poor"etc, but I never know exactly how.

    Where's the balance? I don't want to feel guilty every time I buy something for myself. Is there anything wrong with buying a new shirt or cd or something?
    Alyssa
    re bestsy
    on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11:47 am
    hi yeah you go to teenmissions.org and then you push bible college. I think it is in the archives on the page. Going on the mission trip changed my life. The college is free if you go on a mission trip before hand. Check it out it is awesome
    Anonymous
    re betsy
    on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11:48 am
    sorry i spelled your name wrong=)
    Nat
    Re:
    on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:24 pm
    Thanks for posting this! It really opened my mind and heart towards giving more!! =)
    Cutie
    Re:
    on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:39 pm
    Wow this was kinda convicting....
    hfarver
    Re: Steph
    on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11:32 pm
    I can sympathize completely! I'm saving for college right now as well, and sometimes I'll impulsively want to give more (out of my savings.) I don't think this desire is bad--it often spurs me to re-consider how much I'm giving, and think of new ways to afford to give more.

    The big danger, I believe, is to make sure that we're giving out of love and not out of a desire to earn God's approval. It's tempting to think that if we give and give and give that God will reward us. The truth is, He *will* reward us, but the only reward He guarantees is Heavenly. We can't earn any earthly treasure from Him.

    I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of Randy Alcorn's "The Treasure Principle." It's a short, easy to read book containing solid advice on giving.

    Blessings in Christ,
    Hannah
    Paulina
    Where's the balance?
    on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 1:54 am
    I also want to know the answer to what Elaina said: Where's the balance?
    Sometimes I feel guilt and I wonder if instead of buying a book,or go to the movies, should I be spending it in something I need or in someone else. God gives us everything and Jesus gave everything for us too. He wants us to be like Him. It is ok to have things that are not strictly neccesary?

    About where can we give to the poor and the needy, not all of us have the opportunity to go to a far country to do amazing works, but we can help in our community, for instance, sometimes the only thing I can give to my church is a kilo of rice that is used to prepare meals or to give to families in need.
    Katie
    Giving
    on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 10:10 am
    Thanks for posting, I really needed this!! Lately I've been thinking a lot, "I need to go to the mall to get some new boots!! ", but actually my old ones are totally fine and still fit perfectly! It's good to get things in perspective again!!

    Our youth group in our church did this fund-raiser called "Dollar for a Drink", which helps build wells in India!! We raised a little over 1000$!! It's so amazing to see how God is helping things happen!!
    That fund-raiser really inspired me to actually DO SOMETHING and not just sit around and think, "I'll do this when I'm grown-up and actually have my own money" !!
    Beth
    Re: Elaina and Paulina
    on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 1:42 pm
    I think it all really depends on God's leading. If you feel the Spirit tugging and convicting your heart to spend less on t-shirts and cd's, then obey. But no, it's not bad to buy those things. We just need to listen for the Spirit's leading and be constantly checking our hearts to make sure we're not too wrapped up in those extra things--like new t-shirts and cd's.
    Heather
    saving and giving
    on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 10:30 pm
    I'm currently saving for a mission trip for vanuatu with my school. I'm finding it difficult to give money to our compassion child at church .. Should I be giving money rather than saving for a mission trip where I will be helping others right there and then?

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