I was at a charity fundraiser this evening. I was one of the ones holding the bucket (and card machine – welcome to 2023!). I was struck by people’s generosity. Lots were putting in paper money and my bucket was almost overflowing. But in the midst of all of this someone came and, it seemed to me, tried to hide the money they were putting in. Glimpsing between their fingers I could see that the coins were smaller silver coins – 5p and 20p pieces.
A few things struck me. People were giving what they could to a cause they believed in. Some gave large amounts, so small amounts, but most seemed to give something. (To clarify, I wasn’t standing at the entrance/exit barring the way until people gave. I was standing off to one side trying to look friendly!)
But it also struck me that this one person tried to hide their gift. I’m not making judgement on the person – any gift, big or small, is gratefully received by charitable causes. And I don’t know what their situation was, whether they didn’t have much cash on them, whether they didn’t have much cash in general or whether they simply didn’t want to give much – that’s not for me to know. Rather I was struck by the act of trying to hide it.
Let’s imagine, for a moment, that this person didn’t have much and what they gave was out of the little they had. There was no big shout of, “look what I’m doing! Aren’t I generous?!” (Not that any of the people there actually did that – but some did make a big thing of flourishing paper). No, instead there was a desire to give something done unobtrusively. No one but me could see what was donated. But maybe there was also a little embarrassment that they could only give a little. OK, maybe I’m reading into it too much. But they were definitely covering the coins from sight.
Jesus is in the temple and watches someone important give some money to the temple. Its a large sum but probably not money he would miss in the grand scheme of things. Then a widow comes and gives a small amount. But she doesn’t have much and she gives from that small amount she has, possibly all she had, and she definitely would feel it. It would probably be the difference between a meal and am empty tummy. And yet she gave with no complaint, no hesitation.
He gave so he was seen to give. She gave because she wanted to. He gave from a place of pride. She gave from a place of faithfulness. I was reminded of that tonight.
I wonder how often we give (money, time, skills) from a place of pride or the need to be seen or, worse, from a place of duty. Or do we give from a desire to serve God, from a place of faithfulness and trust. What are our motives? The amount is not important. I’m not telling you to give more. I’m asking you to think about why you give (or not). What motivates you? Fear? Worry? Hubris?
Love?
The Reason for my Hope Blog 