Giving Your Money: Who Wins: God or Man?
Even though God has promised to bless us when we give, we still show signs of lukewarmness in giving.
This has led to many congregations adopting various ways of coercing congregants to give.
For instance, in many churches in Ghana, when a congregation prepares to hold a fundraising to support its programmes, invitations are sent to those who are wealthy to act as chairpersons and special guests.
The day arrives.
The sermon is very short.
There might not be intercessory prayer and Bible Study that day; the purpose is to get enough money as targeted.
Then, there is the first offertory, then appeal for funds, then 'Kofi ne Ama'(1) (Kofi and Ama) and finally 'mmea ne mmarima'(2) (men and women).
A fundraising that could have taken a few minutes to organize (note that the fundraising is just a part of the main service) could take more than an hour because that is the day to showcase different styles in dancing; that is the time to find out if the Friday born can raise a higher amount than the Monday born; that is the period to find out if the men can raise a higher amount than the women in the congregation; we eventually miss the purpose of our worship.
Let's assume that Kwame is a member of such a congregation.
Kwame has forty-five US dollars ($45.
00) to give.
During the first offertory he gives five DOLLARS($5.
00).
He gives highest during the appeal for funds because that is when the various amounts would be mentioned, say $100, $50, $30, $20, in descending order.
When $30 is mentioned, Kwame walks forward to give; everyone gets to know he has given $30 and he is applauded.
He then spreads the remaining ten dollars ($10.
00) over 'Kofi ne Ama' and 'mmea ne mmarima'.
In the end, it is Kwame who wins, not God.
What is the essence of all these.
Can't we just spend a few minutes in bringing all we have to the altar? Can't we give with simplicity (Mt.
6:1-4)? Can't we save some time for other equally important issues? This won't be possible until the church wakes up from its lukewarm state of giving; until the church repents of its lukewarmness and comes to understand the principles of giving.
I thank God that some congregations have identified this problem and have repented.
These congregations are now excelling in the grace of giving.
Notes 1.
'Kofi ne Ama' is a method of giving in some Ghanaian churches.
The days of the week are called (Sunday to Saturday) and on whichever day you were born, you walk forward to give.
At the end, the total amount each day-born group contributed is computed and announced, beginning from the lowest contributors to the highest contributors, amidst shouts of joy by members of the day-group which is announced as the winner (highest contributor).
2.
'Mmea ne mmarima' is also a method of giving in some Ghanaian churches.
In this method, giving is based on gender.
Women and men queue up separately to make their contributions.
In the end, the total amount each group contributed is computed and announced, amidst shouts of joy from the gender group that contributes highest for beating their opponent.
This has led to many congregations adopting various ways of coercing congregants to give.
For instance, in many churches in Ghana, when a congregation prepares to hold a fundraising to support its programmes, invitations are sent to those who are wealthy to act as chairpersons and special guests.
The day arrives.
The sermon is very short.
There might not be intercessory prayer and Bible Study that day; the purpose is to get enough money as targeted.
Then, there is the first offertory, then appeal for funds, then 'Kofi ne Ama'(1) (Kofi and Ama) and finally 'mmea ne mmarima'(2) (men and women).
A fundraising that could have taken a few minutes to organize (note that the fundraising is just a part of the main service) could take more than an hour because that is the day to showcase different styles in dancing; that is the time to find out if the Friday born can raise a higher amount than the Monday born; that is the period to find out if the men can raise a higher amount than the women in the congregation; we eventually miss the purpose of our worship.
Let's assume that Kwame is a member of such a congregation.
Kwame has forty-five US dollars ($45.
00) to give.
During the first offertory he gives five DOLLARS($5.
00).
He gives highest during the appeal for funds because that is when the various amounts would be mentioned, say $100, $50, $30, $20, in descending order.
When $30 is mentioned, Kwame walks forward to give; everyone gets to know he has given $30 and he is applauded.
He then spreads the remaining ten dollars ($10.
00) over 'Kofi ne Ama' and 'mmea ne mmarima'.
In the end, it is Kwame who wins, not God.
What is the essence of all these.
Can't we just spend a few minutes in bringing all we have to the altar? Can't we give with simplicity (Mt.
6:1-4)? Can't we save some time for other equally important issues? This won't be possible until the church wakes up from its lukewarm state of giving; until the church repents of its lukewarmness and comes to understand the principles of giving.
I thank God that some congregations have identified this problem and have repented.
These congregations are now excelling in the grace of giving.
Notes 1.
'Kofi ne Ama' is a method of giving in some Ghanaian churches.
The days of the week are called (Sunday to Saturday) and on whichever day you were born, you walk forward to give.
At the end, the total amount each day-born group contributed is computed and announced, beginning from the lowest contributors to the highest contributors, amidst shouts of joy by members of the day-group which is announced as the winner (highest contributor).
2.
'Mmea ne mmarima' is also a method of giving in some Ghanaian churches.
In this method, giving is based on gender.
Women and men queue up separately to make their contributions.
In the end, the total amount each group contributed is computed and announced, amidst shouts of joy from the gender group that contributes highest for beating their opponent.
Source...