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{"id":10047,"date":"2016-12-04T15:35:04","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T19:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/eidos\/?p=10047"},"modified":"2016-12-04T23:40:21","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T03:40:21","slug":"give-money-less-money-god-will-bless-every-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/eidos\/2016\/12\/give-money-less-money-god-will-bless-every-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Money to Have Less Money: God Will Bless You, Every One."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"A_Christmas_Carol_-_Scrooge_and_Bob_Cratchit_opt\"$ <\/a>Scrooge got angry with his nephew Fred over a \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d claiming he would like to see such humbugs boiled in their own pudding and buried with a stake of holly in their hearts.*<\/p>\n

This is a far worse reaction to Christmas than a Starbucks red cup.<\/p>\n

Scrooge loves money because he thinks it keeps him safe. He is a fearful man and money protects him from the world. Oddly, there are not-really-Christians who claim that people should give (especially to them) so that they can have\u00a0more money.<\/em><\/p>\n

I have no doubt that God can bless us financially if we give to God. I have seen it happen, but God and giving are not an investment scheme. He sees our heart and knows that the\u00a0love of money<\/em> is the root of all kinds of evil<\/a>. God sees that few rich people are saved from evil<\/a>, because money is so seductive. Simultaneously, the people I have known most free of money, most giving, were wealthy and some of the people consumed with the lust for money were poor.<\/p>\n

Loving <\/em>money cannot make us happy, cannot keep us safe, and can be a curse as easily as a blessing. Oddly, \u00a0money used wisely can make happiness, can create more safety and can multiply jollification. How?<\/p>\n

When we\u00a0use<\/em> money to bless a community, we are blessed by blessing other people. We almost surely will have less money, but we will have created a community by our wise giving that blesses\u00a0us<\/em>. A person can own money, but only a person in a community can be happy or blessed. Money cannot create a community, but money can create the space in which community flourishes.<\/p>\n

Scrooge begins to provide \u201cChristmas cheer\u201d to the needy, helps little Tim get well, and makes the workplace better for Bob Cratchitt. He is willing to take time \u201coff\u201d for a party with his family and that too is a gift! The result is that Scrooge gains physical life! He would have been dead in a year from his griping, miserable existence. His giving provides a new lease on life. When he dies, as die he must, he will be ready and honored in his time. No man can ask for more.<\/p>\n

At the end of\u00a0The Christmas Carol<\/em>, Scrooge has given away a great deal of money, there are many back payments in his giving, and he does not make a dime. He has less money at the end of the story than at the start, but Scrooge does have something. The old miser is the new jolly man and has friends, a restored family, and much jollification. Most of all, he has returned to church where he experiences healing.<\/p>\n

We are blessed when we give, but the best blessings are not money or giving money would be a foolish idea. We usually give money and end up with less money! Instead we give because it is blessed . . . and when we give we are blessed . \u00a0. . every one.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n

*Based on a stewardship talk I was asked to give at Saint Paul Orthodox Church. If you want to give away some money, try there<\/a> or The Saint Constantine School <\/a>where not a dime will go to administrators who do not teach.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"