Recent comments by presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann have stirred up the discussion about gay marriage once again. While speaking to a group of high school…
23
Apr
2012
Jonathan Brink
The Author
Jonathan Brink
I am the Senior Editor at Provoketive. I am the author of the recently published, Discovering the God Imagination. I also serve as Senior Editor for Civitas Press, a boutique publishing firm specializing in inspiring and redemptive ideas. I am developing a new model for publishing and seek to create new opportunities for fresh and creative voices.
Occasionally, I speak on issues of justice, postmodern theology, and living a life in the way of Jesus. I leads workshops on The Practice of Love and Exploring a Postmodern Gospel at BeADisciple.com.
I am a son, a husband, and a father. I live in Folsom, Ca, with my beautiful wife and amazing three children.
Recently I was reading a book that was talking about the nature of giving from God’s perspective. It was all good, included information I had heard before, but was good to hear again nonetheless. And of course it mentioned the famous passage in 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The primary message I’ve always taken away from this verse, and the materials that talk about it, it that God loves a giver. God loves it when we give because we’re doing the work of the kingdom. Giving is a necessary component and if I’m giving, God is happy with me.
But something struck me this morning as I was reading it again. What if I had missed that God’s primary motivation is not the money, but my happiness. God loves me to be in good cheer. God is interested in my happiness, and doesn’t want me to give unless I’m happy about it.
That hit me like a ton of bricks. When I’m a giver, I feel like I’m performing a duty. But when I’m cheerful, I feel like God is deeper interested in what I care about. And that makes we want to give.
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This is great. Love how simply and directly you came to this insight. Our cheerfulness is the point, for that pleases God and frees us from ego. And it takes no effort and therefore no boast. Wonderfully wrapped revelation!
To the usual or worldly way of thinking, any giving is a sacrifice and cannot be considered a virtue unless there is some personal cost as well as conditions, quid pro quo most often. Where is the giving if there is no loss or pain to some degree, thinketh the world? Then there is also, as you mentioned, giving out of duty, the “obligatory” tithe. But as it says in the Tao: Perfect kindness acts without thinking of kindness. Or it is catchier in the lyrics song by Janis Joplin: It ain’t nothin’ if it ain’t free, babe.
The cheerfulness, for me, is that delight in God and life, a deep down gratitude in and joy of being, that has everything needed for others in endless supply, the giving more like spillage from an overflowing cup.
Oops, came across this just a few minutes after I commented. I’d be interested in what you think.
Duty is a subterfuge of vanity.
There are no shoulds in the kingdom of heaven, and that is where we are to reside in each moment…the everlasting Now. Any moral or ethical demands we hold and act from in response to our neighbor, is not the Father doing the works; it is our understanding, effort, and judgment, for which we claim achievement.
I’m not quite sure I understand. Duty for me is an external story, and is sometimes independent of the person involved. I think love finds a win/win for each involved.
“…external story…independent of the person involved.”
Sorry, I do not follow what you mean. Perhaps, then, I should try to explain what I mean.
For me, love has no duty, in the usual way we think of duty: “conduct due to superiors; obligatory tasks.” Love always acts naturally for the ultimate well-being of others as is suited in the moment. Duty can overlook what is best for a perceived rightness of action. Duty comes from our understanding and effort.
However, in the Process of Spiritual Maturation, Duty is crucial in first half of life business and detrimental in second half of life freedom.
Tom, you’ve said the same thing a different way. An outside authority determines what’s right.
Jonathan, I guess I get easily confused. I said the same thing a different way to help clarify, in response to your saying that you were not quite sure you understood.
“An outside authority determines what’s right.”: are you saying that this statement is my point, simply restated? If so, then I have not been clear.
Tom, what I’m trying to say is that when our motivations begin outside of us, or “external” we instinctively rebel against them, because we are called to be free. Love begins with a choice, not a demand.
Jonathan, funny, that’s exactly what I was saying.