BY BILL REAGAN
December is a big month. For retailers, December makes or breaks the year. The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday because that is the day that many businesses start to turn a profit for the year. December makes or breaks the year for non-profit organizations.
Churches count on Advent and Christmas offerings to build a cushion going into the new year. Non-profits depend on end of the year giving to firm up their balance sheets — for operating revenue and for purposes of grant writing in the new year.
A lot of money changes hands in December. Christmas shopping is good for businesses and the economy. We all love the looks on our children’s faces on Christmas morning. They feel special when they get what they wanted. Everybody likes to get a present.
In about a month the decorations will come down. The tree will be in the street, or in a box. The presents will be put away, or exchanged. Before long you may not even remember what you got for Christmas.
Why give? Why now?
Jesus noticed a widow in the Temple in Jerusalem. He praised her for giving the modern equivalent of two cents. She gave everything she had, not of her wealth, but of her poverty.
Pastors see this all the time. People who do not know whether their next pay check will cover their own expenses give generously to their church. And they do so gladly. There are many generous wealthy people, but to give of wealth is relatively easy. To give of poverty requires faith.
Giving is good for you. It makes you feel good. Everybody likes feeling good. There’s more. Giving makes you let go. When you buy something you get the value you paid for. You can’t buy charity. Generosity is not for sale. When you give you lose control – of your money and how it is spent.
You are forced to trust the church or charity or person you have given to. That’s faith — and faith is good for you.
Bill Reagan is executive director of Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley.
