Comments on: Responsibility

By: Bill Langill jr.

Bill Langill jr. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:13:26 +0000

I was with a group of believers at the local park last saturday giving out food boxes to anyone who needed one. There where no forms to fill out just food and hotdogs on the grill. It occured to me that this was a place where Jesus was, a place where giving and receiving converge with no strings attached. All it made me want to do is give and receive more and experience the person of Jesus Christ. You are right Jeremy selfless giving is the way of God. Keep up the Good work Jeremy!

uncle Bill

Uncle Bill

By: John Selbak

John Selbak — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:59:09 +0000

Jeremy’s observation about Jesus’ peculiar approach to responsibility is also illustrated in the parable of the seeds and the sower (Matt. 13). While it is not speaking about money, that parable evidences a similar lack of concern about responsibility when Jesus modeled how we are to steward the seed (God’s word). A “responsible” sower would only sow seed in the good soil, carefully plowing and planting the ground where the seed would surely grow. In Jesus’ parable, however, the sower is reckless in his generosity, sowing the seed everywhere, including places that any first century sower would know it could not grow (on the road, in the rocky soil, or among the thorns).

I’m not advocating that we become unwise in our giving. It is clearly commended in the parable of the talents (Matt 25), where the one who produces the greatest return is the one most rewarded. But restraint and pietous concern for how we give is mostly an uptight Western idea that is otherwise absent from the teachings of Jesus. When Jesus used the words “wise” and “steward” near each other, it was in the context of a steward accomplishing the master’s purposes, as opposed to using all of the resources for him or herself. Since we are often guilty of exactly that (spending the entirety of the resources entrusted to us by God on ourselves), it seems strange that we become so conscientious with the few dollars we do give away.

Jesus repeatedly demonstrated an unbridled generosity. We would do well to adopt that same attitude.

By: Ryan Amaradio

Ryan Amaradio — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:55:10 +0000

I would have to agree with Jeremy on this point. I was a little disturbed at the fact it felt like last nights comments were consistently more about ways or excuses to not give. Let’s face it I think that everyone of could think of a good reason to not give something. I think putting perspective into things is important and in all reality what we have been given on this Earth is from God in the first place and it is not our money. So I think standing on that reason alone a logical decision when it come to (to give or to not give) giving would be the wise choice. I myself have not mastered the art of giving but I continue to strive to have a heart for the people who have less then I. So that one day when I stand before God I am not telling him a bunch of reasons why I didn’t give but instead I am telling a him bunch of reasons why I did.