Dana Reardon - Giving: A Matter of Priorities

Giving: A Matter of Priorities

Stewardship at some point becomes an act of will. We are touched by the love and generosity of God and feel moved to give, but unless we take the time and effort to reorganize our lives and our pocketbooks to make room to give to the things that have touched our hearts, we will never actually accomplish it.

I have heard so many people say that when they get so much money, or to such a point in their lives, then they will give to this cause that has touched their hearts. Then I see them reorganize their lives and their budgets for other things that come up, things that they have decided they need. And that charity or cause or church never makes it into the budget the way it should.

This all came to me as I was sitting at a charity event the other night. It was for a good cause. It was a bachelor auction where the single men had planned expensive dates and then single women were bidding for a date with the bachelors. The bidding quickly got out of my league. I believe the most expensive date of the night which involved Springsteen tickets and limousines and a pretty good looking bachelor went for $1,400. Obviously there were people here who could afford to give to charity, but I would guess that outside of this atmosphere of drinks and frivolity they might not give so generously. That is why these kind of events exist.

But whenever occasions come up that I clearly cannot afford, it makes me rethink my budget, because sometimes we cannot afford things because we have not planned ahead for them and not because they are way out of our realm. Okay, so even if I had the money in my bank account I would still not be bidding for bachelors -- it is not my style -- but what other causes have I passed by?

When was the last time that you really wanted to give to some cause, or you wished you had money for an occasion that came up? When was the last time you said, "One of these days I will be able to help that cause or my church," or whatever touched your heart? If we don't budget it in it will never be one of these days.

Lord,
So often you touch my heart to help your people in need, to care for others, to further the gospel. Give me the will and the way to do so.
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 Izzo says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.