What comes to mind when you think of the fiscal reputation of today’s college students? Student loans? Credit card debt? Empty pockets? As a college student, it is extremely easy to use these stereotypes as “get out of jail free” cards to skip a donation. Older generations remember the days of eating Ramen noodles for days in a row, and washing loads of laundry that were full to bursting the machine.
But many adults are more than willing to excuse youth’s lack of financial involvement in the church and church organizations. However, I have personally found that being generous with my money has added significantly to both my own life and the world around me.
I don’t tend to be very vocal about my giving After all, my donations don’t compare with well-established adults, but I believe that God uses my gifts just as much as anyone else’s.
I didn’t always believe that my small contributions could make any difference. Growing up, I heard the story of Jesus praising the widow who gave the last two coins “out of her poverty” (Mark 12:41-44). This lesson became personal two years ago when I was hired for my first real job. I started setting aside 10 percent of every paycheck to tithe and donate. I was unpleasantly surprised when I realized how much of my original income was instantly gone from taxes, plus the additional amount from my tithe. My two small coins suddenly felt much larger.
But eventually the shock began to wear off. I started to enjoy taking the time to choose where my 10 percent would go. Sometimes I would place a bill or two in my home church’s offering, sometimes a local missionary asked for some funds, and sometimes I had enough to write a nice check to Mennonite Mission Network. The Spirit always nudged me in one direction or another for where God could use my money that week.
At one point, I struggled with whether or not to spread my tithe money around so liberally instead of always giving it directly to my home church like a traditional tithe. With time, I’ve come to the conclusion that I experience “church” in so many different ways other than just in a building on Sunday mornings. In particular, I had the opportunity to spend a year with Mennonite Mission Network’s program, Service Adventure, in Albany, Oregon. Throughout this year I learned an incredible amount about what it means to be the body of Christ, experienced life in community, practiced simple living, and overall strengthened my faith in a multitude of significant ways. If that’s not Church, then I don’t know what is.
Financial giving has become a spiritual discipline in my life and a great way to invest in bringing about the kingdom of God here on earth, a remarkable calling. Not only do these donations give much needed support to worthy causes and individuals, but regular tithing also provides one with practice in becoming more dependent on God. (Those of us who live comfortably really have no comprehension of the trust that many Christians around the world put in God to provide their daily, physical needs.) Tithing is one way to let go of a little bit of control in our lives and to gain a little more trust in God to provide.
As you consider what you’ve been given by God, how do you respond? If you choose to give to Mennonite Mission Network, why do you give? Do you set a fixed amount or percent aside? Do you give to your home church, or choose another worthy cause that catches your eye?
Blessings as you discern how God is calling you to use the gifts that have been generously granted to you for this season!
