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Asking for or giving for God David Palmer, one of the trustees of Crew Trust, urges us to not to be ashamed to ask for resources for the kingdom of God.
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A Charism you may want to give to someone else! In 1985 I witnessed a miracle. So did millions of others. An estimated $100 million was raised to feed the poor. Yes, there was some music. Yes, there were some harrowing pictures and stories, which brought tears to the eyes. Yes, there were examples of people giving. But the key trigger for me, and I suspect many of the millions of people who gave money to Live Aid that night, was an unkempt Irish pop singer who was so filled with the Holy Spirit that he said "Give us the ****ing money!" on live television. There is a reluctance in the Catholic Church to do the same. The need may be obvious and urgent but Bishops, Parish Priests and lay leaders, even those speakers at conferences and Mass who are there solely to ask for money, seem to be reluctant to do so. St Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, did not seem to suffer from this reluctance. He congratulates them on their past generosity, states he has been holding them out as an example to the Macedonians and mentions that he would hate his boasting to have been hollow. So he asks them to avoid embarrassment, his and theirs, by making an extra generous gift, not one grudgingly given. "For God loves a cheerful giver and God is able to make grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work" Give And There Will Be Gifts For You Our Lord Jesus is similarly encouraging. In Luke 6:38 He says: "Give and there will be gifts/or you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you." The Catechism says in Para 2462: "Giving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God". Para 2043 states "The faithful have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities." In Para 1351 it quotes from St Justin's description of the early church: "Those who are well off, and who are also willing, give as each chooses." In Acts 2:45 we hear that "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as had need." Charity is a fruit of the Spirit. Should we appeal for money? I believe we have a duty to do so if we believe the cause is good. I want to encourage you to consider whether you, in ' your calling, or in your parish or community should be asking for help in order to give others the opportunity to exercise the gift of Giving. If I understand the Beatitudes correctly, the poor are blessed precisely because they can ask and receive. The rich cannot be blessed by God because they think they do not need anything. It is good to ask to allow others to exercise the gift of Charity. Giving or Yourself There is a gift of "giving". Some exercise it by giving of themselves. Priests, religious and some laity do it by giving their lives for the faith, sacrificing all their time for the work of Christ. I have often wondered at the widow in Mark 12:42. "She put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on." How did she cope? As givers, should we give till it hurts? After all doesn't Our Lord say we should give everything up and follow him? No! Or at least not unless our calling is to total poverty, when God will provide the grace to do so. God loves a cheerful giver not one who is coerced. Our possessions are to be used wisely, not squandered. We must use our talents, not bury them or abdicate responsibility by giving them away without thought. Scripture is full of people who used their money wisely: Abraham, Solomon, the women who supported Jesus in His ministry, Joseph of Arimathaea and those who gave to Paul. That we should give is a given. How (whether our money, our time or our prayers), how much and to whom is a matter for prayer and careful consideration of our own needs and those for whom we may be responsible. Do Not Be Scared To Ask For Money For Good Causes In Acts 20:35 St Paul quotes Our Lord as saying: "There is more happiness in giving than receiving." Even the secular Government has recognised the benefits of Giving by making gifts allowable against Income tax and not subject to Inheritance tax. High rate tax avoidance is simple - gift aid everything above the threshold! Help others to be blessed by suggesting they give more of themselves. Particularly at Christmas time, consider making donations to Charity rather than giving presents, or suggesting that others do so rather than giving to you. Do not be scared to ask for money or time on behalf of causes you know to be worthwhile. Perhaps "Ask and you shall receive" is a commandment we could all do well to follow more often. Help others to fulfil their Christian duty by asking - but perhaps more politely than Bob Geldof did!
DAVID A PALMER BA, FCA, CTA, MIPD
is a Chartered Accountant involved in Catholic Charismatic renewal.
His website;
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