This page is under construction.

Rector's Page

Are you feeling squeezed?

With rising prices of petrol, energy and food many – particularly those of us with families –  may be feeling squeezed today.  So it is with some degree of caution that I write about giving to the church.

Let’s start with good news. Jesus had good news for those who were worried about having enough to live on. (Did you know that in the gospels Jesus speaks more about money than he does about prayer?) After telling a story about a rich man who spent all his energy on accumulating money and then had to leave it behind when he died, he went on to say, “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or wear…Your Father knows the things that you need.” My family has proved the truth of that promise many times, and it has helped to release me from the feeling of being squeezed financially.

St Paul had some practical advice to give to those who wanted to contribute to the work of the church. First of all, he reminded them to remember the grace and generosity of God, and how Jesus gave up everything to become poor for our sakes, so that we, through his poverty, might become rich. Then recommended that people gave what they could according to their means, that is in proportion to their income. Finally, he recommended budgeting so that whatever people decided to give was put aside each week before it was spent on other things.

I have discovered that giving – sacrificial giving – is a spiritual discipline because it forces me to trust God more for the things we need, and reminds me that money is not the most important thing. So when it comes to giving to God’s work through the church the two principles of trusting God and careful budgeting mean that I can give cheerfully. St Paul wrote that ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’

In our family we give to the church about 10% of our income after tax. Why do we give? My vision for giving isn’t the bottom line of the budget spreadsheet, but it’s a vision for my children – that there might be a church here that will help them grow up as good people, loving God as faithful followers of Jesus; it’s a vision for the church here and in the poorer parts of south London helping people to meet Jesus and hearing the good news; it’s a vision for our gathered times when we experience and engage with God in vibrant worship. There’s so much more that could be done if we had the resources.

Contrary to popular opinion, the church is not always asking for money, but when we do I am very aware that it is a sensitive issue with many people and hits some raw nerves. All I can say is that we have discovered that trusting God and budgeting carefully has meant that we can respond both cheerfully and sacrificially when it comes to giving to his work in the church.

May God bless you.

PAUL


 

signature

This page was last updated on 09/06/2008