To most practicing Christians giving constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of their faith and is such an integral part of Godly living, since the bible says in Acts 20 verse 35 that “…blessed is the hand that gives than the one that receives.”
But basing on the scripture above there is a danger that we human beings of sinful nature that we are might resort to giving for selfish reasons because we want the extra blessings all to ourselves apart from painting a picture of generosity to the world when sometimes that’s not what we truly are.
Giving hand sharing have late become a very contentious issue amidst the gospels of prosperity and success, and one million dollar question surrounding this subtle subject is about when is the right time to give, has the bible given instruction on the proper time to help the needy?
The festive season is here and media is awash with articles of people, companies, organisations and more who have gone out to cheer the sick in hospital, inmates and even orphans being kept in various orphanages.
As rightly observed in Malawi it has of late become a common phenomenon that people might would sit back and watch a brother or sister struggle with life to make an ends meet all year through but will wait until Christmas to reach out to them.
So why should helping anybody just wait for this time of the year alone, or is it one way that people use to ease their conscious that there be no blood on their head of someone out there who died on a hospital bed or behind bars due to starvation and more while they were up and about making merry?
Pastor Charles Burton of the Karonga Assemblies of God weighed in by issuing warning that seasonal or timed generosity stands to dilute the whole essence of giving as advised by the bible as it becomes mere festive fever.
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| Burton |
Burton said all the kind gestures during Christmas are bound to become ceremonial and selfish when Non-governmental Organisations and any groups of individuals do it without full understanding of the meaning of Christmas or do not stand for the Christian values.
“Giving is an exercise of the greatest commandment which is love and if our focus of love is seasonal then it’s not love. Love is unconditional and unseasonal as such people should do what they can do every time without waiting for a particular time of the year,” he said.
While acknowledging that giving during this time is drawn from the three Wisemen from the East in the bible who gave baby Jesus gifts of Myrrh and Olive Burton insists that the modern trend is without purpose but just capacity of fame and enjoyment.
“Proverbs 19 verse 17 says those that pity on the ones in need lend to God and he will pay them back at his appointed time, therefore giving or helping those in need should be every Christian’s nature because it is fulfillment of the word” he added.
However, to General Secretary for the Livingstonia Synod in the Church for Central African Presbytery (CCAP) Reverend Levi Nyondo giving and sharing should be an integral part of Christmas because during this time Christians celebrate God’s offertory of his son Jesus Christ to the world.
He is however quick to say it is equally imperative to give during the other times of the year because people face problems all the time and they are always looking for benefactors from all walks of life.
“During Christmas we are indeed supposed to propagate the message of Jesus birth through charity and any other kind gesture however we should be reminded that God directed us to always feel for those that are suffering regardless of times and seasons,” said Nyondo.
If Nyondo and Burton’s words are anything go by, may our giving during this festive season be mere continuation of something innate in us as Christians because to any practicing Christian giving is not optional but rather essential as it is one other way of worship because we give to the glory of God and the good of his people.
Now as Christians or any other believers may this year’s Christmas be a springboard for our lifetime commitment to serving others who Jesus through his birth came to save.
Merry xmas!
