When I first arrived in the UK, I heard many stories from fellow international students who had learned to adapt to British culture over time. Although seemingly strange to me at first, these quirks were things I became accustomed to, whether it was fascination with the weather, the ‘proper’ way to make tea, or how describing someone as ‘interesting’ was most definitely not a compliment!
I grew up in the warm and humid tropics, where people would spontaneously arrive at your house with an abundance of homegrown fruits that could only be finished if we called more friends and family to help us eat everything together. Imagine my confusion after moving here when I learned that I’d have to book a coffee with a friend weeks in advance despite living in the same city, seeing young parents raise babies without an army of community aunties providing practical support, and families encouraging their children to pursue their personal dreams, even if it didn’t provide a stable income.
Coming from a culture of interdependency, I assumed that everyone shared everything together. Coming from a relationship-oriented culture, I did not perceive pushing back daily tasks to give time and space for spontaneous conversations and relationship as an interruption to my day. I hadn’t realised how difficult it would be to adapt to an individualistic, time-oriented culture upon arriving in the UK.
As dearly loved children of God, we are called to imitate Him in living a life of love, following the example of Christ, “who loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1 – 2). Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) in whom the fullness of God dwells (Colossians 1:19) yet gives of Himself abundantly and generously. He empties Himself in a sacrificial life, poured out for others in His life, death and resurrection. He humbles Himself in making Himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, and being obedient even to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5 – 8). This example of humility is a radical challenge to any society. If we are to follow in His footsteps, how is the act of giving counter-cultural to the society we live in? What does God invite us to in the act of giving, and what attitudes are we to have? Ultimately, what does it look like for us as the church to live counter-culturally? How can we live a life poured out for other people in sacrificial giving?
"How can we live a life poured out for other people in sacrificial giving? "
There are many ways we can give, be it our time, compassion, hospitality, forgiveness, generosity, wealth, service or skill. Throughout the gospels, Jesus highlights examples of marginalised individuals whose attitudes in giving are praised, despite being naturally overlooked or scorned by society.
In giving to the temple treasury, it is not the rich who are commended for throwing in large amounts of wealth, but a poor widow who gives all she has to live on – two mere copper coins (Mark 12:41 – 44). In Luke 10:25 – 37, Jesus commends the Good Samaritan for his actions and generosity towards a man in desperate need of help. In this context, Samaritans were foreigners, despised for their physical and religious beliefs, yet it is not the Rabbi as the religious leader, nor the Levite, but the Samaritan who is praised.
In Mark 14:3 – 9, a woman is rebuked harshly by onlookers for her ‘wasteful’ action of pouring costly perfume to anoint Jesus, yet Jesus honours her prophetic and symbolic act of deep devotion to Him. He also encourages us to give to the ‘least of these’, or those unable to return the favour: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the ill, the prisoner, the poor, the blind, the crippled, the lame and the blind (Matthew 25:34 – 40, Luke 14:12 – 14). Who are the people that are often overlooked that God is calling you to demonstrate radical giving towards?
Through giving, we recognise that all we have is created and sustained by Him for His glory, not by our own efforts, strength or systems. In a self-reliant culture that encourages us to have a stiff upper lip, we can be counter-cultural as He invites us into a position of dependence in sacrificial giving to others and unto God. We also place ourselves in a position of vulnerability as we express need, trusting in His provision.
"Through giving, we recognise that all we have is created and sustained by Him for His glory..."
In expressing our need before Him and before others, we are invited to a place of interdependency, as the body of Christ serves each other through our different parts and giftings. How can you express deeper vulnerability before God and the body of Christ? Where might God be calling you to meet others in their place of need?
Through giving, we worship God as our Creator rather than worshipping created things, as we intentionally surrender all we are and all that we have to Him. In a materialistic and consumeristic culture, we can be counter-cultural in having an attitude of simplicity and contentment in His goodness to us.
Through giving, we trust in His perfect character who not only feeds the birds (Matthew 6:26), but who sees, knows and meets all of our needs as a loving and generous Father who delights in blessing His children with good gifts (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17).
He illustrates this abundant giving in Luke 15, by clothing the youngest son with the best robe and a ring, and throwing a celebration feast to mark his return, much to the anger of the older brother who bitterly views these actions as undeserved. We are similarly called to reflect His generosity and abundance. How do we cultivate attitudes of contentment and joy in relating to material things? How do you see God as a Father, and how does that affect your attitudes of giving and receiving?
In the journey of learning to give sacrificially, may we receive His invitation to depend on Him with joy!
