Dear Father - Sharing the Gifts God has Given Us

Q: It seems like the church is always asking for money. Why should I give?

A: Many of us have a bucket list of things we would like to do in our lifetimes. I do, too. One thing on my list, for example, is to visit all the presidential museums in the United States. (I have only made it to three so far). I’d also like to see Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon and several places in New England. The most important thing on my list is one I might never accomplish, but it is a good goal to have. I’d like to visit the Holy Land. I have heard of the extraordinary impact it has on people when they are in the places where Jesus was born, performed miracles and celebrated the Last Supper, and when they go the site of the crucifixion and, of course, of the resurrection.

One of the places where I’d like to visit is the Jordan River. I was reading some interesting facts about the river where Jesus was baptized. For example, it flows from the Sea of Galilee, where there is rich life in its waters. It’s filled with numerous types of fish and varying plant life. I’ve read it is Israel’s largest source of fresh drinking water, supplying about one-third of the nation’s annual water requirement. The Sea of Galilee takes water from the Jordan River, and then it gives water back to the river. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee. As a result, the Sea of Galilee is full of life and beauty.

Now compare that with the Dead Sea. The Jordan River and other waters flow into the Dead Sea but do not flow out. As a result, evaporation of the water leaves a very high salt content ... such that no life can survive in it.

Why is this important? I think this can be like our lives of faith. I think it can be reflective of the ways in which we share — or do not share — our time, talents and treasure. If we allow ourselves to spend our time, for instance, helping
others, we are like the Sea of Galilee. Giving up some of our time for others allows us to give life like the Sea of Galilee. The same thing goes for our talents and treasure. When we receive these gifts from God, and pass them on — or in other words, share them with others — we’re like the Jordan River: we can provide much life. But if we are only willing to take God’s gifts and keep them for ourselves and not share them with others, we are more like the Dead Sea where life cannot thrive.

One example of where the diocesan Church asks for our monetary gifts is through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, which funds the ministries, resources and programs of the Diocese of Kalamazoo (including my own seminary education). God gifts us treasures in small or large ways. But regardless of the amount of money we give, we are called to be like the Sea of Galilee, where we give some of our treasure so that we can help provide life to others. But if we only accept the treasures we have been given and not share it, then we are like the Dead Sea. Nothing flows from us, so we cannot be life giving. We can apply that not just to our treasures but to our time and talents. Do we volunteer? Do we offer our God-given talents for his glory?

When it comes to sharing our treasure, time or talent, we should ask ourselves what we are more like when it comes to the gifts God gives us. Do we want to share those with others, or simply receive them and never pass it on? One provides life, and the other doesn’t. That’s a journey we all need to take — and to add to our bucket lists, too.

Dear Father PDF