I live in New Hampshire and on more then one occasion, our State has been recognized as the least charitable state per capita in the country.  In recent memory, New Hampshire was recognized as the wealthiest state per capita as well.  What a distinction to be number one in wealth, but to have the lowest percentage of all the fifty states designated to charitable giving. In this same study, Mississippi, one of the poorest States in the nation, was regarded as number one in percentage of giving to charity.

It reminds me of the parishioner who told his pastor he could not longer tithe to the church.  He said when he was making five hundred dollars a week, he could sacrificially put fifty dollars in the offering each week. Now that he was making five thousand dollars a week, he couldn't bring himself to put five hundred dollars a week in the plate. The pastor said that he would pray for him and the situation, specifically that his income would return to the five hundred a week level so that he could keep his faithful commitment to God.

It is truly not about the amount of money given, but the faith by which we live sacrificially.  The apostle Paul speaks of the generosity of the Macedonia Churches, in II Corinthians 8:2-4 "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people."

The Macedonian churches and perhaps our brothers and sisters in Mississippi captured the joy of giving, not out of their abundance, but out of their poverty and it welled up in a  rich generosity.  As the pastor prayed for his parishioner to have a reduced income maybe we should be blessed with less in order to be more faithful in our giving.  An argument could be made that our abundance keeps us from giving generously to the Lord.

Whether we give much or give little, the blessings are the same if we give sacrificially to God.  Consider the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. You know the parable well.  The faithful one with five talents gained five more.  The faithful one with two talents gained two more. The one with one talent, who lacked faith, buried his in the ground.  What is interesting in the parable is that the blessing for the two people of faith is exactly the same.  The one with five talents and the one with two talents are both told, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt 25:21)

It is true that some people have much more to give then others, but God blesses the rich and the poor equally if they give a generous return of what has been bestowed on them.  So again I say it is not about the amount you return to the Lord. In our Comprehensive Campaign, a number of our "poorer" churches  ( read Macedonian)  are giving in sacrificial ways beyond what we have imagined.  And indeed many of our "richer" churches are giving sacrificially as well.  The "poorer" churches may be giving smaller dollar amounts per church, but they are given the same blessing and are sharing in the Masters happiness.

In the faith community known as CCCC it is not about equal giving, but about equal sacrifice.  One day we will all be asked a question, "Did you do the best you could with what the Lord gave you?"  We would not want Jesus to come back and see that we have buried our talents in the ground, but rather we have invested them in Kingdom works.

Rev. Terry H Shanahan,

CCCC Northeast Regional Minister