,Give what you have

We’ve spent the bulk of this time focusing on personal perspectives and our relationships with God. It has been intentional, but it also may feel intangible or impractical. At the end of the day, we have the right and responsibility to engage in kingdom-minded action. But it can be an intimidating prospect in times like these. It can sometimes seem that our only option is complete passivity or an over-aggressive confrontation on social media. But if your greatest action thus far has been political posts on social media, might I humbly suggest that there are more effective ways to bring about true change?

It can be overwhelming to consider all of the current needs that exist in our world. Finding ways to get involved actively and practically can be even more challenging. But can I encourage you today? You don’t need to solve every problem or meet every need! Again, my encouragement for you is to find what you can do and take steps, even small ones, in that direction. To help us do just that, I’d like to reference a well-known stewardship principle that I’ve found helpful in moving toward action. It’s the principle of our time, talent, and treasure.

These three simple categories are meant to provide clarity about what we each have to offer in our pursuit of kingdom-minded action.

Let’s start with time...

Time

If you’re at all like me, there have been many moments when you’ve realized that you’d like to be in better physical shape. But as often as I’ve thought or talked about my fitness goals, nothing actually changes. It isn’t until I dedicate time (on my calendar) to doing something about it that real change occurs.

One of the frequent criticisms of the political space is that there’s a lot of talk and very little action. I wonder if the same may be said for many of us when it comes to political issues. We criticize political leaders, even though we might not take the time to vote. We share our passion for certain policies or beliefs, yet fail to engage with organizations that are actively working to bring about change in these areas. We wish things would improve without asking the question: “How can I make things better this week?”

There is an invitation for all of us to be a part of God’s work in this season, but it may require some practical changes to the way we spend our time.

More No = More Yes

We are all incredibly busy. This is a very important reality that we have to recognize when it comes to our time and schedules. The demands for our attention are at an all time high. So it’s not surprising that we have a difficult time finding space in our calendar for involvement in important causes. I’ve never been great at math, but I’m positive that we can’t give more than 100 percent of our time. In order for us to create space to step into kingdom-minded action, the first step is often identifying what to subtract.

“You can’t have yes without no. Another way to say it: if you’re not careful with your yeses, you start to say no to some very important things without even realizing it.”

—Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect

The incredible thing about saying no, and reducing the number of things on our calendar, is that we find that our less-hurried lives actually produce more peace. And when the things that remain on our calendar are what’s most important, most transformative, and most kingdom-focused, we find a renewed sense of purpose and security that can’t be found elsewhere.

This concept of slowing down and becoming less hurried is critical to finding peace. I’d encourage you to check out John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. He takes a deep dive into this idea of busyness, hurry, and invites us into a different way of living.

We are all unique

This truth can often create division between people. In reality, it is one of the most incredible gifts we have been granted. God has uniquely equipped each of us with gifts and talents, not only for our individual benefit, but for the benefit of others.

When we discover what God has uniquely gifted us, we are able to engage in kingdom-minded action more effectively. We are able to act in a way that makes a greater difference than when we attempt to do things outside of our gifting. So how has God uniquely wired you? What are your strengths? Is there something that you can do that seems to come more naturally to you than others?

Our talents and gifts can come in different forms. For some, what comes to mind is a practical skill like construction, managing budgets, teaching, or marketing. For others, their greatest talents might be more relational like: hospitality, leadership, or encouragement. Each strength has its place, each strength is needed. What’s important is to recognize our gifting and discover where we can use it to step into kingdom-minded action.

Untalented?

Is there an area where you’re uniquely untalented? I don’t mean this disparagingly. Just as each of us has strengths, we have weaknesses as well. We can improve our areas of weakness, but we must also recognize that our peers may excel in the areas we do not. And that’s a gift!

What would happen if we worked together toward accomplishing a common goal? This is the beauty of what the church is called to be.

I’d encourage you to make a note to read through the full chapter of 1 Corinthians 12, which offers powerful insight on God’s desire for unity among the church. For today, let’s remember that God did not call us to transform the world all by ourselves. We are instead created to partner with God and join together as a unified body. When we do, we can be a part of the incredible things God has in store for us.

Treasure

Worthwhile actions always cost something. Sometimes they cost our time, as we previously discussed. Other times, they may have an actual financial cost. Take a moment to think about the story of the Good Samaritan. Not only did the Samaritan sacrifice his time to care for the injured man, he continued to show love and compassion by paying for the man’s room and board. It’s one thing to help an injured man on the side of the road. It’s an entirely different level of love and sacrifice to pay for his housing and medical expenses.

When love and compassion never require us to open our wallets, we may need to re-evaluate the depth of our love.

Before we dive deeper into the topic of money, please know that I’m not prescribing a particular way to spend your money. I certainly do not want to bring shame to those who are struggling financially. Time and talent are equally valuable contributions toward kingdom-minded action. Our value and worth are not based on how much money we have, give, or receive.

However, for those who have access to financial resources, there is an opportunity and responsibility to use them. Just like our other gifts, we must steward our blessings in a way that demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus.

When I consider where my treasure and heart sit, it sure looks like they are deeply invested in things like: food, Amazon, entertainment, and comfort. I am admittedly generous when it comes to taking care of myself and family. Yet, I often tend to be closed-fisted or indifferent when it comes to sharing my finances with others.

What we learn through Jesus’ teaching, is that our finances and hearts are interconnected, even inseparable. So when our finances are threatened, so are all of the things in which we’ve invested our heart. In an unstable political season, financial uncertainty often increases, and with it, our anxiety.

If we long to find true peace in this political season, we can take Jesus up on his invitation to lay up our treasure in heaven. When our finances are fully surrendered to building God’s kingdom, rather than our own, we find our hearts can rest securely in the protection and provision of God.

Giving generously

How can we use our financial resources as a part of our kingdom-minded action? Be generous.

Throughout the previous chapters, there have been a few opportunities to consider causes and organizations that you align with and are passionate about. Could they benefit from your financial generosity? Could they love and serve more people if you stepped in to support them? If you’re not sure, feel free to ask them! An organization worth financially supporting should have clear plans on how they can increase their kingdom-minded action with your generosity.

Who comes to mind when you think of someone in need? Is there a neighbor who has lost a job? A family you know struggles to buy their groceries? A community that seems to be overlooked and forgotten? As we move into our practice section, spend some time asking God to show you where you can be generous with what he’s given you.