It's been kind of a crazy week. Between recovering from the extra busy weekend I had last week and the internet problems that I've had this week, I've barely had time to think about things. And I still have to write a sermon for Sunday!
We had some real snow flurries this morning. The past couple of years it's been so warm all the way through November that our first flurries haven't been coming until December or even January. But we've had very cold air and some bits of snow already this year, and maybe more to come! I happen to like the cold air; it makes it a little easier to hear the Christmas carols that are already playing in stores!
Our Five Practices chapter this week dealt with the practice of Extravagant Generosity. This is the practice of tithing-- which I must admit is not my strongest spiritual gift. Tithing means giving 10 per cent of your income (you can also tithe your time and talents, I believe, but I think most of us have the most trouble with tithing our income-- and that is the main focus of the chapter.)
The chapter talks about tithing as a spiritual discipline, and ways to approach tithing if you're don't already practice it. I like the idea that the book suggests of increasing your giving a small amount each year until you're giving 10 per cent. It also suggests having a plan for tithing (which the book is very big on for each of the practices) so that you can be intentional about it, as well as writing that check first so that you're tithing from your abundance rather than out of your leftovers. All of this is designed to see our giving as an opportunity rather than a chore--- and as something we do for God or on behalf of the kingdom of God rather than a duty we must perform. Giving is like any other thing we do for God, in that the amount we give or the way we give it doesn't do anything to earn us points with God-- the only way we attain God's grace is through our faith in Christ-- but like all of the other things we do for God, we do it out of gratitude for what God has done for us in Christ.
Extravagant Generosity gives us the opportunity to do many things, such as build a church fellowship-- that supports us and is the avenue for creation of new disciples-- and help people outside of the church, in our communities and in the world, to have needs met that wouldn't otherwise be met, to have a better life, and to see the face of God in others. Extravagant Generosity enables us to think of the needs of others before we think of our own needs-- and self sacrifice is helpful in our growth as faithful people. The concept of extravagant generosity may seem overwhelming to us at first, but if we take it a step at a time, it is possible.
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