LENT 2020: LEGACY
Through the Lenten season, we hope to explore some historic ways Christians have practiced Lent including learning the practices of prayer, fasting, serving, living simply, and giving. Each Lenten reflection is accompanied by some suggestions of ways that you and your family might experiment with the practices of Lent. Today, we look at the discipline of Giving.
GIVING
The practice of giving during Lent is closely tied to the discipline of living simply. We noted that the discipline of simplifying is: letting go of things we don’t need or that someone else needs more than we do. Over the centuries, Christians have spent the 40 days leading up to Easter, preparing for the resurrection of Christ by the observing of the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and giving. Through it, we are to remember our baptism and this great mystery that we who were dead to sin, are now enabled to share in new life in the risen Christ.
In the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Jesus addressed (what we observe as the three historic practices of Lent): giving (Matthrew 6:2), praying (6:5) and fasting (6:16). The disciplines’ ultimate goal is to draw us closer in dependence to God. And these disciplines are not for the sake of the discipline itself, but to the praise of God. Jesus begins with giving.
Jesus presented giving to the needy as a necessary part of Christian life: "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. (Mt. 6:2).” He does not say if you give alms, but when. Like fasting, prayer, and service, giving to those in need is part of following Christ and perhaps an identifying marker of a Christian.
Giving is countercultural. It’s difficult. In a culture highly committed to the pursuit of self-centeredness, self-fulfillment and self-promotion, sacrificial giving is a denial of self.
So, why give? We’ve all heard of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation on His Word and worship, but what if we also saw giving as a spiritual discipline? Disciplines do not come naturally or without effort. On the contrary, they are sustained habits of thought and/or behavior that need constant practice. There are many good reasons to give, but at the core, Christ commends it, commands it, and models giving as a mark of His disciples. This discipline, how well we are giving or not, perhaps is a badge of the strength of our discipleship and how well we are living in dependence on Christ and following Him.
Jesus spoke often about money. One-third of the parables that Jesus taught concerned how to handle money and our possessions. Money is important because it reveals who we really are. Nothing reveals the condition of our heart and the values of our life, like the way we spend our money. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt.6:21) In other words, the issue of giving is not really about money at all! It’s a heart issue.
Can I invite you to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”? For surely in our pursuit of discipleship and conforming to His image, “all these things will be added to you as well.” (Mt.6:33)
THE PRACTICE
March 22 - April 12: Click HERE to print a soup can label and fill a can with your change through Lent. Bring your pile of change along with an extra gift of your conviction to donate to Mexico/Grace. You can also give through our giving page on our website.