ON GIVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 3

ON GIVING

Written for the Otago Daily Times By the Rev. Gardner Miller

There is a very interesting passage in the eleventh Chapter of Luke which, I am afraid, is passed over by most people. And that is probably because the words in the authorised version do not seem to convey any real meaning, and you know how apt we all are to leave alone the things we do not understand. The passage is in verse 41: “ But rather give alms of such things as ye have.” The revised version alters it to “ However give for alms those tilings .which are within,” and that is certainly much clearer than the old version. Of course the word “ alms ” is one we do not use at all. In England there are quite a number of houses for the poor, called alms-houses, and the word is familiar to those who have anything to do with such homes for the poor. But even these would probably find it difficult to say just what “ alms ” means. The word simply means a charitable gift. Now let us get back to Luke, Chapter eleven. A very religious fnan —and, I have no doubt, a good man—had invited Jesus to a meal.

He was one of those good religious men who never forget the traditions and the customs —a real stickler for doing things in the right way. He was upset that Jesus did . not wash before sitting down to eat. I rather think Jesus did not wash on purpose. He often shocked people, not because He wanted to hurt them but because He wanted them to think. Thinking is often a very painful business. Now look at verses ’39 and 40. Pretty sharp words! There were occasions when Jesus did not mince matters and this .was one of them. He let this stern but good man know that strict attention to things that could be seen was not nearly so important as attention to things that attracted no notice. He went further and showed him that this showing off about washing was like the habit of his class to make a public exhibition of their charity. The real charity, it seems to me, . that Jesus insisted oil to this good man’s growing embarrassment,’ is the charity from within what you giye that is part of yourself, not merely part of your surplus possessions. Not that Jesus had a word to say against the giving of money and goods, the outward things, as against the inward things. He Himself provided food for the multitude and was insistant that His disciples clothed the naked and fed the hungry. It surely must be a. great joy to those who have to be able to give generously. The tight-fisted people are not really happy, but the open-handed must know a joy and experience, a pleasure at beipg able to help others. And you do not need to have much before you ban begin giving. I think of widows and nurses and working class folk, and those whose income is derived from careful investments, who so generously give to the sick and the needy. I know, because so many of them make me their distributor. But it is possible for people to give without giving themselves. Unless the heart is in the gift, then the gift is merely a business transaction. But When the i heart is in it, you are giving more than the gift, you are giving yourself as well. Jesus is quite clear that no gift is really of value unless the springs of it, the urge of it, the motive of it, came from within the heart. I dm particularly glad that'material charity (and “charity” is a: great and lovely word as well as a great and lovely grace) is not the only charity that counts, for otherwise thousands of people would be excluded from the grace of giving. For them is this word of Jesus- about giving “ those things which are within.” TSie Art of Doing Good The kindness of the poor far outsteps that of the rich. I have seen the poor stand by each other, sharing their poverty, in a way that I have never known rich people to do. I always think it is a great pity that so many people scrimp and save so as to leave a few thousands. How much happier they would be to spend while they are alive and feel within themselves the warm feeling of being a friend, an anonymous friend, to the friendless. Jesus never left anything material except a garment. What He left behind in the hearts of those who loved Him, all the money in the world couldn’t buy. “My Peace I leave with you." Peace in the heart is worth more than thousands in the bank. But Jesus was wonderfully rich in the “ things which are within.” He gave His joy to the joyless, and His love to the loveless. He poured out Himself freely and without stint to everybody who contacted Him. His prayers were no unconsiderable part of His interior wealth, and how he prayed for others! We would not all agree on what was the greatest thing Jesus ever gave to the world, but, for myself, I have no hesitation in saying that it was His vision of God. The human heart and mind crave to know God. It is the ceaseless quest of man. To me,' the very heart of Christianity is just that Jesus gives a vision of God that holds you, challenges you and sends you on and on along the road of experience until one day you will see God, and then I have no doubt we will find that God is like Jesus. It is this giving of Himself, of the things within Himself, that has enriched the millions of men and women who cannot think of living apart from Christ. It is on these interior things, your love, your sympathy, your interest in others, that Jesus lays such emphasis. Learn the art of doing good. Give yourself in that letter you are going to write, bestir yourself to make that visit, do not wait for things to alter, go and give, and give, of your inner wealth and you will never be poor in the things that matter. Giving grows, stinginess stagnates.