My studies this semester have taught me several things about wealth that I would say would effect who I am as a Christian and a minister. In the past, I only possessed a partially biblical view of wealth and I was far from applying what I actually know to be biblical today. Application is the most important thing that I learned. I learned (or actually I always knew but it finally came to a culmination) that what I believe, my orthodoxy affects what I practice, my orthopraxis. In the area of wealth, I would say that this mean I have learned a generous heart. God has called me to meet needs generously and to be a carrier of grace and generosity.
As a minister, if I am not generous with all that I have I would consider myself ineffective. I would be hard-pressed to think of a situation in which I could be unable to give generously to those who need more than I do. If I ever find myself in that situation, I hope I will count myself as blessed by trials. I hope that I will only find ways to bless others out of the blessings that God has given me. It is not a matter of a tithe or any certain percentage, at least as far as my understanding of Jesus’ teaching goes. Rather, at the root of the matter is a question of the heart: Are we generous or are we greedy? Will we give and be a blessing or will we refrain and stop one? With the measure we measure it will be measured to us. If we are generous and willing to give, how much more will God be generous with us? Or, perhaps, how much more has God already given to us? Therefore, I can find no reason not to be generous when I am able and when I see a need for generosity. It is my hope and prayer that God will open my eyes to see such needs; open my heart to care for such needs; and open my hands to eliminate such needs where God has so enable me.
