But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7) (NIV)
“You not come today. We are watched. Sorry, sorry.”
The phone clicked, went silent, and our speaking engagement with an underground church was canceled. Unsanctioned meetings were illegal in China. The government had already imprisoned one member of this Christian cell group and they were looking for others. The Chinese believers I met took risks to come together, and they wept for the joy of fellowship. Would I be as devoted in their situation?
The threat of imprisonment in China separates the faithful from the faithless. The test of loyalty in my culture is very different. It’s often a test of material generosity.
In the passage above, Paul lists indicators of grace at work—faith (yes I have pretty good faith), speech (my language is mostly okay), knowledge (I read the Bible), complete earnestness (well, I try), and love (I’m better now than before). Then he lays out the ultimate litmus test—do I give money?
Money is essential in our world, so it’s a great test of my loyalty to Christ. And the answer is in black and white. All the rest is soft words. Numbers don’t lie. Either I’ve committed a percentage of my income and I give it, or I don’t. With a few simple calculations I can find out if my heart loves Jesus like my mouth says I do.
Heaven watches me with a pen poised over the Book of Recorded Deeds. Reading from the book, God will say to my Chinese friends, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
Will I, too, hear those words?
Prayer: Holy One, show me how to give money.