A pig and a chicken were walking along a path one day. They saw a sign in front of the church: “Ham and Eggs Breakfast.” The chicken said to the pig, “Come on, friend, let’s go help the church with the ham and eggs breakfast.”
“No way!” said the pig.
“Why not?” asked the chicken.
“Because,” replied the pig, “for you it would only be a donation. For me, it would be a total commitment!”
This little story illustrates one of the hard truths we as Christians face. That truth is that Jesus is looking for a total commitment from us. We learn this in his discussion with the rich young ruler when he tells him to sell all his possessions and give it to the poor. We learn this at the temple when Jesus points out a widow putting her last two cents in the offering plate. We learn this when Jesus teaches in Matthew 16:25 that whoever loses his life for the sake of Christ will gain it.
Over and over again Jesus calls for a total commitment from us, and often we resist this commitment. Sometimes we think we are too busy to do the work of Christ. Sometimes we don’t think we are talented enough, or have the right gifts to do what God asks of us. Sometimes, at least when it comes to finances, we begin to think that everything we have is ours and this leads to a feeling of resentment when we give. When this happens we feel like the pig in my story–not willing to “help” because total commitment scares us.
Perhaps overcoming this fear begins by understanding and reminding ourselves of everything God has done for us. John 3:16 is always a good place to start: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not parish, but have eternal life.” We know from this text that God was totally committed to us and our world. It was because of this total commitment that he desired to save us; to bridge the gap between us and him. The reason he did this? Love.
I think it’s pretty awesome to know that God loves us this much. It’s a love that has transformed my life, and a love that I have seen transform the lives of many around me. The best part for me is knowing that God also equips me with the tools to share this love with others. He fills me with gifts, he adds time to my days, and he allows me to be the steward of resources that are beyond what I need. As I consider my own giving, I always remind myself that God has never sold me short and that if I have enough faith and courage to make that total commitment, he will never let me down.
My hope and prayer for all of you as you consider your giving in your church is that you would remember all the ways in which God has blessed you. In turn then, I would pray that we would give in a way that allows us to be a blessing to others. This is our call as persons of faith, to give ourselves totally and completely so that God’s Kingdom might truly come.
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