want and need

Camel-hair shirts and the locust diet.

A long time ago, in a garden overflowing with goodness, a naked young lady was convinced by a talking snake that she wanted more.  This lie was an enormous whopper the like of which no-one had ever heard because, in reality, this young lady wanted for nothing.  All of her needs were met.  But from the moment the lie was heard, she itched for more.

The problem spread down the centuries and into every human heart until, one day, a desperate crowd stood by a desert river and said to a man,

“What should we do?” (Luke 3:10)

The man was John the Baptist, a desert preacher who had no possessions whatsoever.  He ate locusts and wore a robe made of camel-hair.  He dedicated his life to not wanting, so he was qualified to speak on the matter.  He answered,

“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” (Luke 3:11)

Notice that John didn’t say give all your shirts, just the ones you don’t need.  But I bet no-one who heard him speak that day offered him a shirt or topped up his supply of locusts.  But that’s OK; it wasn’t a literal instruction – it was massively more important than that.

Giving away half your wardrobe does not immediately give you spiritual and personal fulfilment.  You do not become perfect by donating to charity shops.  So we can’t ignore the next tsunami or stop giving to the DEC because we cleared out our least fashionable shirts.  Rather, John the Baptist was talking about a life of absolute generosity where everything we own is to be halved and shared with those who don’t have enough.

That was a tough calling, but the people responded.

John the Baptist was immediately surrounded by a host of ‘sinners’ asking for individual advice and direction.  ‘But what about us tax collectors?’ ‘What about us soldiers?’  Every answer he gave was different in the detail but the same in spirit. 

Use only what you need and give the rest away. 

This message was so radical (apparently) that people began to wonder if John the Baptist was the Messiah (Luke 3:15).  They hadn’t even met Jesus, the real Messiah, who would set the bar at the highest level.

Give back. Give more. Give yourself. Give from the heart.

The itch of want will take over and blind us to the need of others, if we let it.  Giving generously helps undo the process.  So I suggest we start small and build up. 

The generosity challenge:

First, throw open your wardrobe door and pull it all out.  Find the good stuff that (for whatever reason) you just don’t wear.  Bag it up, and give it away to a worthy cause.  I know John the Baptist didn’t mean this literally, but why not, eh?  Give it a go.

Secondly, when you’re queuing to pay for your coffee, count the money in your wallet or purse and divide it by two.  Pay for someone else’s drink even if it means changing your own order.

Thirdly, look for an opportunity to give a substantial amount to a cause.  Make personal sacrifices so that you feel the pain of giving.  Forego a pleasure or want so that you can fulfil the need of another.  If your wealth is in time, hospitality or skills, give from those.  If it is financial wealth, you know who to talk to.

This blog series is the next step on from Stewardship’s Lent initiative, 40Acts.  We don’t have to restrict sacrificial and generous giving to the time of Lent.  Why not carry on the Lent challenge throughout the year?  Find an opportunity to give – and I mean really give – this October.