Yippee!
We’ve finally arrived at some down-to-earth things we can do with all. that. info.
But since we’re dealing with specifics, we’ve gotta remind ourselves about “precision without legalism.”
So let’s review:
1. Who is our Master? (hint: it is not each other)
2. If, in moving in our lives and hearts, we find Him leading us into some of these activities, should we feel prideful and self-righteous? (hint: no, never, not ever, ever, ever, ever…)
3. If our neighbor isn’t doing one or two or all of these things, should we look down our noses at them? (If you need a hint on that, you’re on your own!)
4. If we start to do some of these things and end up stopping for some reason…or we wish we could do some of these things, but it just can’t happen right now…should we feel guilty, embarrassed or ashamed? (hint: God already saw perfection in Jesus. He is not looking for that in us. He is looking for willing obedience. And glory through our imperfections.)
Okay, are we ready?
Some ideas as you seek to create new spending habits and have a Kingdom-friendly budget:
Sponsor a child through Compassion International. This can develop into a life-long relationship.
Set aside a percentage from every paycheck for Giving – for whatever spontaneous needs arise
Seek to give a minimum of $100 for any mission support letter received
Plan ahead so you don’t overspend on treats, meals, etc. Entitlements can be small, but they add up!
Have cash on hand for when you see someone on the street. Look them in the eyes. Pray for them. See what kind of feelings that action sows in your heart. Teach your children how to love others and give.
Do a 6-month fast from any spending category that owns you – clothes, eating out, home accessories, home improvements, hobbies, etc. Or maybe fast from a particular store for 6 months (Target jumps to my mind!). Channel that money toward those who need it.
Are there services you could cut back or cut down on? Phone, cable, hair cuts, electric or gas usage in our homes, entertainment? Get creative for family entertainment, date nights, community times. Create new rituals of nonconsumption.
Weed through your bank statements so you really know how much you’re spending where.
Give up your coffee or soda for a month and give away that money.
Research charitable organizations. We need to know who is helping those who need it – teaching them to fish for a lifetime – not doing more harm than good.
Some reputable organizations I’ve heard good things about:
www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org
(As with anything, I am quite certain I’ve missed something fabulous. Feel free to comment with other organizations!)
Jen suggests, “Commit to buying from retailers making a difference, corporations with a conscious who employ underresourced workers or cycle profits into vulnerable communities. Your dollar can be powerful.”
Some ideas:
www.free2work.org This gives vendors a grade (A – F) based on how careful they are in not being involved in slave labor/human trafficking in the making of their products worldwide. Warning: Once you know, you can never not know.
www.madeinafreeworld.com (including the Call + Response documentary)
Read this book
Host a Clothing Swap with friends and neighbors. Have everyone bring things they no longer wear and swap. New stuff; no money spent!
Same deal with Kids’ Clothes. A Hand-Me-Down Swap with friends.
Open your home to orphans and foster kids.
Cut up some credit cards, a la Dave Ramsey.
Research refugee populations in your city. Is there something you could do with your money or possessions to help?
Wanna go really crazy? Downsize! Commit to living much smaller and give away the excess.
Constantly check your entitlements. Do you feel like you deserve certain things?
Check out of social media – or media in general – more often. Sometimes we can get lured into the consumer mentality just by going with the flow of our cultural tide.
Slow your schedule down. Sometimes we’re not unkind or uncaring. We’re just busy.
One last one from Jen:
“Do ‘places I already owe’ have an inordinate amount of power over your financial freedom to be generous? Have some hard conversations:
– Could we do with a cheaper house?
– Could we do with fewer (or cheaper) cars?
– Are there services we could cut back or cut down on?
– What must we do to get out of debt? (Off you go to Dave Ramsey. He’ll get you out of debt then I’ll show you how to spend all your extra money on poor people.)”
(Lots of these are adapted from Jen’s ideas in The 7 Experiment, pg. 142)
Do you have some other ideas? We need each other’s help and support in this. And pretty much all these things are more fun done in community.
Oh! On that note, I want to address something from Matthew 6:1.
Jesus said,
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
I’ve been thinking about sharing our giving stories with others. I think in trying to live out this verse and seek humility, we sometimes rob each other of the encouragement that can come from sharing how God is using us and changing us as we seek to give to His Kingdom.
In fact, Alcorn says:
“Should giving always be kept a secret? I have no desire to lose my…reward from God by calling attention to myself… Nevertheless, Scripture does show there is encouragement in believers seeing God at work in the giving of other believers (1 Chron. 29:6-9, 2 Cor. 8:1-7).
I’ve been encouraged and stimulated to give as I’ve heard the giving testimonies of others.
For this reason I sometimes tell our giving story…hoping it will benefit others.
If the reason for my giving is in order to get the readers’ approval, however, I will forfeit my reward.”
Maybe we don’t announce it to everyone, but I think we can share with our people. And ask each other hard questions about whether we’re getting greedy, robbing God, becoming entitled, etc.
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” (Heb. 10:24)
Isn’t this fun?!