In addition to raising money through food sales and the auction at the annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, can we also learn from the example of the early church? |
Here are some of Paul's instructions for that giving:
1. Set aside generous contributions on a regular basis.
"On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of their income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed." (I Corinthians 16:2 Berean Study Bible)
2. Emulate the generous and joyous giving done by other believers.
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (II Corinthians 8:1-5 NIV)
3. Give out of a deep sense of Christ's love and compassion, the one who made himself poor for our sakes.
...since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (II Corinthians 8:7-9 NIV)
4. Give eagerly and willingly, based on all of the blessings you have been given.
Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. (II Corinthians 8:10-12 NIV)
5. Give not as an act of charity, but as an intentional distribution of wealth that results in greater equity and equality.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (II Corinthians 8:13-15 NIV)
These God-inspired instructions have relevance for us today.
Four years ago an SOS (Sharing Our Surplus) Committee was formed to help the fall Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale raise additional funds for world relief through having a donation table for cash, check or credit card contributions. The proceeds were to augment funds the Relief Sale raises each year for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) through auction and food sales, with all of the SOS proceeds going directly MCC for refugee relief needs.
In the years since, a total of over $100,000 has been raised through this effort, and last year's SOS receipts enabled the total Relief Sale's giving to MCC to exceed all previous years, in spite of there not being the usual onsite auction and food sales at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in 2020.
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