2008 June 04 « Gabriel’s Weblog

Giving

Moses spoke toa ll the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORDS’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, and blue, purple, and scarlet matriel, fine linen, goats’ hair…. etc”
— Exodus 35:4-6

God didn’t guilt them. He didn’t force them. He said, “If you’re willing, please give.” Mind you, the tithe is not optional for Israel. But this contribution is optional. God says, “I would like to build a tabernacle… would you please donate materials to make it happen… but only if you’re willing. If you’re not, that’s OK.”

A friend once said to me, “The only right motivation for giving is gratitude.” Being thankful to God, and giving to him out of that. You don’t necessarily need to feel thankful. Sometimes we make the choice, “God, I’m not feeling really thankful right now. You know why. But regardless of how I feel, I know that there’s much to be thankful to you for… so here… here’s my tithe. Thanks.”

The David Crowder Band recently put out a limited edition release of their album Remedy. (It has some bonus songs and a bonus DVD.) When Crowder announced it on his blog, not all the fans were excited about this (especially the ones who already had the album). In his defense, he put it like this:

ok, if say, jimmy buffet (universal crowd pleaser example)
released a limited edition of “fruitcakes” i would not buy it. i own most of
jimmy buffet’s cds. they are pleasant to listen to while sitting in sunshine. they
also make you think of sunshine when it is cloudy and you are in a bad mood. i
like his “jimmy buffet” album best. i would say i mildly like jimmy buffet.

if say, “the frames” (band from dublin whose lead singer is
one academy award winner glen hansard) released a limited edition of “the cost”
(“the frames” latest album) and all they added was a sticker of a beaver on the
front i would buy it. if they released different versions of the cover with
different stickers, with like say a duck, a rabbit, an ox and some type of
amphibian, not a salamander, i would totally buy each of the covers so i would
have all of the animals. i would say i really like the frames.

….but this is what i do. when i am deeply moved by an artist i
want to participate fully in all that they are attempting to produce and
distribute. i have been touched and i wish to touch back and this is the means
i have been given to lessen the distance between us.

….now, here’s the punch line: i’m ok with being your “jimmy
buffet”, but i really want to be your “frames”.[1]