Generosity and Fear (Luke 12)

In 1993, God called a small group to found Every Generation Ministries.

It was a combination of Christian leaders in the United States and Poland that believed God wanted churches to develop life changing children’s ministries. As the founding President of the ministry, I would be responsible for fund raising for the ministry. 

Over the thirty years that followed I learned a great deal about fund raising and giving.

One experience that has stood out in my mind was my efforts to raise funds for a vehicle for our new ministry in Egypt. The Egyptian ministry team needed a vehicle to transport curriculum, training materials and our ministry teams.

The cost of such a vehicle was about $15,000. I had traveled to Egypt with several American businesspeople and professionals, and I decided to approach them about helping.

One of them was a Chiropractor who had several young children, all attending Christian schools. I sent him a letter with a short proposal outlining the need and the cost.

When I traveled to the United States from Poland he agreed to meet with me. The day before our meeting he called and asked if I could meet him at the Toyota dealership and then we could talk. 

I arrived at the dealership, and he was waiting for me. On the way to where we were meeting, he told me he had dropped off his Toyota for service. It had nearly 200,000 miles and was at the point where service was nearly perpetual.

I remember thinking to myself this was a waste of time as someone in that situation was not going to give money for a new car in Egypt when his was on it’s last leg. We sat down and talked, and he asked me about the progress made in raising $15,000.

I told him we already had $5,000 committed. He looked right at me and said, “Great.” My wife and I will give the other $10,000. He was good as his word, and we received the gift a few days later.

For several years afterwards, I would see him, and he was still driving that old Toyota with over 200,000 miles. Who does something like that? The answer is found in Luke 12.

Jesus has been teaching and is interrupted by someone concerned about their inheritance (Luke 12:13). Jesus uses the inquiry to talk about several important elements of discipleship, including generosity.

Jesus refuses to step in as an arbitrator regarding the inheritance (vs. 14) but instead launches into a short teaching against greed and reminds His followers of the need to prioritize the work of the Kingdom of God over possessions (vs. 15).

He tells a parable illustrating this principle (vv. 16-21) and then concludes by reminding His followers how they can trust God to provide for their needs (vv. 22-34). Our attention is at the end of that teaching in verses 32-34. 

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke. 12:32-34 NIV)

In these three verses Jesus draws out important principles regarding fear, generosity, and the heart.

Let Go of Fear and Live Generously

Jesus begins by urging His followers to not be afraid.

He reminds them that God, their Father, has given them the greatest gift namely the Kingdom. In so doing, Jesus calls out the relationship between generosity and fear. While he does not elaborate, we can surmise His intention.

Fear prevents us from experiencing generosity and the joy of giving. Fear devices us to gather, accumulate and ensure that our needs are met. The fear of “lack” can be a powerful force against generosity.

We don’t want to be found lacking when the bills come due. We don’t want to be found lacking when we lose our job or a deal goes sidewise.

Wise financial stewardship is slowly supplanted by fear. Wise planning for future financial needs is replaced by fear of being found without the financial resources needed. The bank accounts and financial reserves may not be enough to meet the needs that lie around the corner.

Jesus reminds His followers that fear can be replaced by trust in God and His ability to provide for us. He has already given us His Kingdom (vs.32).

I currently serve as the Director of the EGM Institute having stepped down from my role leading Every Generation Ministries. An outstanding group of young leaders are steering the ministry into the future and doing a great job.

The EGM Institute is supported by a small group of generous givers committed to sharing important ministry principles learned over the last thirty years.

Last year, the Institute received a surprise gift from one of my former colleague in Eastern Europe. It was a large gift that represented an exceptionally large portion of his monthly income.

The country where my colleague resides is oppressive, Christians are persecuted, and the political and economic future is far from stable and certain. It is a situation where fear could reign and the gathering of resources in the face of uncertainty would be warranted. The generous gift was a tremendous inspiration as an act of generous giving, faith, and trust in the Father.

This is exactly what Jesus urges next, telling the listeners to give to sell their possessions and give to the poor. As we noted in our earlier blog, John the Baptist had already reminded the people of God that, unlike the world around us, the people of God are to be characterized by concern for those in need.

In the Roman world, charity towards another was a strategy to create a sense of indebtedness with the recipient, elevating the donor's social status.

On the other hand, Christian charity and concern for the poor is portrayed as an investment in eternity. Jesus concludes with the pithy statement, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (vs.34).

Fear causes us to run after material possessions, gathering and accumulating for the coming “rainy day.” Fear causes us to be focused on our situation, which could worsen, and less on God’s Kingdom.

Trust leads us to run after God’s Kingdom, putting our focus on the things of God and less on our material possessions and the uncertain future.

God has entrusted us with the good news of life with Christ as God intended. We are to be a blessing to the nations, beginning in our own neighborhoods. Our material possessions should be invested in that eternal Kingdom work.

Several months after launching the ministry work in Poland, the ministry team was sitting around the table in the break room eating lunch.

During that casual conversation, one of our team shared that her dad had been imprisoned at Treblinka, a Nazi death camp, and forced to work for the Germans. He survived the war, got married and lived into his late sixties.

Our colleague told us that every day when he left home for work, he had a bag of salt and bread in his briefcase. He told the children he would never be caught with bread and salt again.

His traumatic experience had caused him to fear some kind of repeat or worse at the hands of the communists or some other unknown future nemesis. 

What are the “fear factors” that influence your view of wealth, money, and security?

Fear is a powerful force, and Jesus reminds us that fear can influence our understanding of material possessions and generosity. Jesus calls us to let go of the fear, seek His kingdom first and our trustworthy God will meet all of our needs.