“How Shall We Then
Give?”
“…and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's
steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support
out of their private means.” (Luke 8:3, NASU)
Dear family of
friends,
Have you ever heard of
the book, “How Should We Then Live?” It was written by Francis A. Schaeffer in
1955. I read it in the 80’s and remember it gave me something to ponder (dictionary:
to think about (something) carefully, especially before making a
decision or reaching a conclusion.)
Lately even more so I
have been asking the Lord about the way we support Christian ministries - how
they request funds, and how should we then respond. Or as I keep seeking of the
Lord, “how shall we then give?”
What is His plan? Is His
example the same as the model we have basically followed for the last 30 years,
as we respond to requests from monthly ministry contribution mailings,
commercials on radio and TV showing needs abounding all over, e-mails coming
into our InBox, or through websites having ads on almost every site we get on?
I have been pondering.
As I am sure you have,
we have heard it all. Tithe here. Send your offering there. “This need is real
urgent, call now the 800 number shown on your screen.” Is that really how our
Prime Example, Jesus (Yeshua) did it? Of course, you and I know He didn’t have
all this modern technology, but isn’t His Word eternal, the same yesterday,
today and forever, and we can learn from Him? We should learn from Him. That
also holds true in how we support ministry.
If you believe that, yes, His example given in His Word is true, there is something then that we can learn by HOW HE DID IT. We can learn from Him as to how
His ministry was provided for. Might we then consider reconsidering how we give
- in our support of those we do now, or for those whom we should be, but haven’t been supporting,
and now should instead?
Here is one example of how Jesus did it. His ministry means was provided by those who knew Him. In fact, Scripture even gives specific names of some who gave provision
for the ministry of Jesus. The first three verses of Luke 8 read, "Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."
We can learn from the importance of why the writer Luke even specifies the names of some women (that note
well taken.) These people were those who personally knew the one they were
supporting. I would imagine they even walked with Him, saw how He ministered,
knew His family and certainly knew His lifestyle. Because they knew, they gave in support of His work.
They gave to the one they were familiar with and trusted.
How familiar are you
with the one who has the costly half hour infomercials, and after convincing you
to give your $10, $25 or more, “for the need is great”, do you ever see or
know exactly where it has gone? (Most likely a good percentage of it will have to go to
pay for the TV production, airtime, staff and more.)
Having worked with
three major ministries, as the Director of Operations and Finances over a
period of 24 years (these each having budgets of over one million dollars annually)
I daily saw how money was raised and spent. And on a regular basis I did
reviews of other ministries with large budgets and expenditures, to gain
further perspective. It will amaze you, and at times it did me. Years later it caused
me to seriously consider how funds for our ministry, Love For His People, would
come in.
My encouragement to
you would be to give to those ministers and ministry whom you personally know. By
having a relationship with them, and not just in giving money, you can see how
they themselves live. This will very well be a good indication as to where your
generous gifts are actually going. Or you might even get to know the ones that their work
assists. This too is a good indicator.
But if you can’t do
that, might you yourself ponder for a bit and seek the Lord, if you are to
redirect your giving? Jesus knew His supporters, and they knew Him. His
ministry didn’t get so large that the relationship was no longer there among
His supporters.
I believe the time
will come, sooner than later, that the Lord will shake down in size those ministries
that have gotten too big, and the relationships aren’t real. He will have caused
us to join together and support one another in small teams, where the huge
expenditures for big TV budgets, radio airtime, and staffs won’t be the norm.
He will get us back to basics, just as He and Paul did it. And we know what
they accomplished.
The Word also says to “Know
those who labor among you” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. It might also mean to know
those who you support for the work of the ministry. To me, that speaks of an
ongoing relationship.
Jesus knew how to do it. Paul knew how to do it. I want
to follow their examples in how you and I do it.
Ahava to my family of
friends,
Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His
People
Love For His People,
Inc. is a charitable,
not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.
Please consider
sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us
bless the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our
humanitarian ministry.
Your tax deductible
contributions receive a receipt for each donation.
If you don't have a
PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where
available).
Contribution checks
can be sent to:
Love For His People,
Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew
– Thank you very much.)
I hope you read my first
two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon
Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com, plus other
website book stores.
You can also order
both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love
Letters Xulon Press for$14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office
for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered
through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)
Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.
Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve
Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous,
LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter
Ahava Love Letter #98
“How Shall We Then Give?” Steve Martin
Date: In the year of
our Lord 2014 (01.06.14) Monday at 9:00 pm in Charlotte, NC).
All previous editions
of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava LoveLetters
