Dana Reardon - Blessings above and byond 10 percent

Blessings above and beyond 10 percent

I was at a conference and sitting at dinner with another pastor. When he found out I was teaching stewardship at the conference he said, “You should meet my brother-in-law. He give away 30 percent of all that he makes."

I don't know if it is the way the brother reads the Old Testament, because there is a case to be made of the 30 percent: 10 percent for the temple, 10 percent as a sin offering and the 10 percent to the poor which in an agrarian society was the gleanings which the farmers were required to leave in the fields for the widows and orphans to gather after the reapers.

I would really like to interview this man. I would like to know how he decides where to give the money. His brother-in-law tells me he sits on payday when he pays his bills and decides where the offerings go.

More than that, I would like to know how he decided that he was rich enough to do this. He is not wealthy, but has a good job, I was told. Most of us are always a couple of thousand away from thinking we have enough for ourselves -- much less enough to be that generous. How did he discover that he had enough for himself and more?

I don't give away thirty percent. Not even close. It may be something to aspire to. Today I helped out a young man because I have felt particularly blessed lately. He swore he would pay me back, but I am not worried whether he does, except for his sake that he keep his word. I felt so rich to be able to help this young man, and it was not a large thing. So I imagine how incredibly blessed the man must feel who sits and decides where almost a third of his income will be offered.

I’m reminded of the Shakespeare quote, "The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth like the gentle rain upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."

We should all be so blessed as to know that we have more than enough for ourselves and others.

Lord, Bless us with the knowledge of your abundance and teach us the joy of giving. Amen

The Rev. Dana Reardon is pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI. A lifelong Lutheran, she came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric intensive care. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before becoming a New Englander. She is still trying to understand the accent. While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship Team. That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more, what makes for generosity. She has three amazing daughters: Pastor Reardon says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.