Sometimes I think
that stewardship and giving within a congregation is a little like a
game show. Have you ever seen Friend or Foe on the game show
network?
On Friend or
Foe, teams of two compete for money by answering questions. At
the end, the two members of the winning team stand opposite each other
and put their hands in the "Trust box" where they cast a vote. If
they both vote "Friend," they get to split the money they won and they
both go home happy. If one votes "Friend" and the other votes "Foe,"
then the one who voted "Foe" gets all the money and the "Friend" gets
nothing. If they both vote "Foe" they both go home with nothing.
Neither of
these last two scenarios is very satisfying. If one votes "Foe" and
gets all the money, he or she goes home rich but must feel pretty
lousy. And of course, the other one goes home not only poor but also
probably feels like a sucker. If they both say "Foe," then they get
nothing and probably feel bad about themselves and one another.
I have been
thinking that if all the people that attend churches regularly in
Rhode Island (where I serve) tithed, we could more than end hunger in
this state. We could do so much. But what if I put in my 10 percent
and you don't? I feel like a sucker and you get to keep your money
for yourself.
Isn't that why
many people don't give more? They don't want to feel like a sucker
when they are the ones contributing more than others? People tell me
that if others would tithe then they would as well, because then the
system would work. But if they give and others don't, then they feel
they have wasted their money and they feel taken.
But what I give is
between God and me on one level, and I need to give it whether you do
or not. When we put our hand into the trust box to decide our pledge
for the year or thinking about what to put in the plate on Sunday we,
are not only playing Friend or Foe with each other, we are also
playing Friend or Foe with the one who created us and gave us
everything.
God puts in a very
large hand that holds all of us and votes, "Friend." And we know God
is going to. We are never going to feel like a sucker if we say
"Friend" to God. We know because that hand holds us up and picks us
up when we sink like Peter in the Sea of Galilee. We know because
that hand laid upon us brings healing. We know because Jesus opened
that hand and said, this is my body. We know because that hand has a
nail hole in it. We know because that hand says, "Peace be with
you." We know because that hand says, "Feed my sheep."
If we can sing
"What a friend we have in Jesus," can we with the Spirit's help do
less than say "Friend" and share what we have won or better yet been
given with the mission He calls us to?
Lord, All that I
have is thine alone, a trust O Lord from thee. Amen
