If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
1 John 3:17
The Cold Hard Facts
· Nearly one third (31%) of annual giving occurs in the month of December.
· 12% of all giving occurs on the last three days of the year.
· Two thirds of people who make donations do no research before giving.
The 3 P’s of Giving
During the Finance segment of MD5 we learned from Andy Stanley that the typical person gives spontaneously, sporadically, and sparingly. Ron Blue, in his book Never Enough, says our giving should instead be prioritized, proportionate, and planned.
Create a Giving Plan
There are many great charities that could use your donation. Donations are down in almost all charities due to COVID-19. Do your diligence and create a plan for your giving. Now is the time to decide how and to who you will focus your giving.
The Quartet of the Vulnerable
Nicholas Wolterstorff has identified what he calls “the quartet of the vulnerable” in Scripture. While the four groups are mentioned throughout Scripture in various places, Zechariah 7:9-10a mentions all four groups in one verse.
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
the foreigner or the poor’”.
Love God, Love People
When we give to these groups we are caring for the “least of these” (Matt.25:40). We also respond to God’s love in our own lives by loving others. I John 3:17 asks,
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Show the Love of God
Using our financial abundance to help the vulnerable flourish identifies us as followers of Christ and is a powerful way to pour God’s love into the world.
Source:
Blue, Ron (2017). Never Enough: 3 Keys to Financial Contentment.
Roger Smithson
MD5 Lab Facilitator