This is How I Pause: I connect with God through Giving
Coen Scholtz is the founder of Ethnos Movement International, a missions organization based in George, South Africa. He is married to Suria and together they have lived through many adventures. To know more about their life, you can go to the About page on this website. He writes…
This is how I pause:
I connect with God through giving
The humidity was suffocating, and the noise of Chennai completed the Sunday afternoon. Tired and drenched in sweat, we decided it was too hot to eat a cooked meal; and so, we settled for watermelon. It was my turn to do the dishes, and looking through the window, I noticed a malnourished child at our gate. She was famished. She made a dash for the rubbish container and grabbed our discarded watermelon peels and gobbled the first mouthfuls down before we could stop her.
Alarmed, we offered a nutritious meal; her cup ran over with gratitude. We were richly rewarded by a shy smile and a trusting glance from her beautiful, dark eyes; so much so that we completely forgot about the humidity, sweat and noise. Now, my cup was running over too!
Stress
A misconception in our current culture is that to feel better and get the required relief from the ever-present stresses of life, we need only to pamper, watch TV and do fun stuff. In fact, many live from holiday to holiday, massage to massage, and rely on Friday night takeaway foods to help them through the next day, week, or year. There is nothing wrong with the above-mentioned, but it will be tragic if we lose sight of more profound truths which bring natural energy and meaning to our lives, like doing good. Doing good helps us align, refocus, and discover the true meaning of being alive. Therefore, the Bible says: “It is more blessed to give than receive.”
Life’s Rhythms
Life consists of the yoyo of stress and rest; being stressed and receiving rest. Our heart rates and sleep patterns are excellent examples as the muscles are stressed and gets recovery from the release. Similarly, our body, soul, and spirit need exercise or stress to make it strong and functional, and the recovery (rest) develops endurance which enables us to finish the race.
The Power of Purpose
Unfortunately, people focus their recovery on the physical, emotional, or social areas, and miss spiritual realities. No amount of sleep, sport, holidays, pampering, counselling, hobbies, braais or “hanging out” with friends can bring full recovery in the absence of connecting with the Lord and our purpose. If we neglect to feed our spirit, we lose meaning, which leaves us without motivation to be healthy and productive. All that remains is an endless pursuit of self-gratification, and before we know it, soon we are no longer connected with our Creator and His plans for our lives. Physical and emotional stress and recovery are essential and even help us connect with the Lord in beautiful ways. Yet, in the absence of purpose and calling, people will struggle. There is nothing more dangerous because the Lord created us for good works so that we can walk in it. God knows the joy and fulfilment that comes from a purposeful life.
Giving
Generosity is a much-needed dimension to help us connect to the Lord and get fueled in all areas of life. Therefore, people feel happier, healthier, and more motivated when they give. I do not know many other ways which restore our physical and spiritual energy and bring freshness to our lives in a more profound way than giving.
Giver of Life
We are celebrating Easter this month; the culmination of Jesus’ coming to earth. He gave Himself and left the splendors of heaven to serve and pour himself out. When Jesus paused living in eternity, He did it through giving. When Jesus waited in prayer the night before the crucifixion, He knew it would lead Him to immense suffering, but also an opportunity to fulfil the Father’s purpose with His life. Therefore, He received the strength to endure till the end. Similarly, living a life of giving energizes us to keep going even when the going gets tough.
To Pause Through Giving
When we pause and pray about giving, it allows a rare glimpse of the needs and circumstances of others less fortunate, and that makes a massive difference in how we view our own lives. Therefore, giving is like breathing; it brings much needed oxygen to our lives. Giving always inspires, energizes, and motivates. It brings back passion and compassion and stirs the will to be effective. Through their hospitality, generosity, and service to others, givers are refreshed and filled with vision and enthusiasm.
Practical ways to pause through giving
There are so many ways to give that it will be hard to mention all of them. Here are a few ways that come to mind:
- Giving through serving:Charity starts at home, and we can serve our families in a variety of practical ways, from washing the dishes to helping with the ever-changing technology.
- Giving of time:It will be great if we all tithe a percentage of our time. We can adopt a granny in the nursing home and regularly take them shopping.
- Birthday giving:My daughter used to ask her friends (not her family) to give her tins of food or blankets for her birthday. It was always such a highlight for her and us when we went to drop these off at homeless communities in the city.
- Giving skills:If we have a skill, like teaching or knitting/crochet, we can start a class for the less fortunate.
- Giving of self:Some might give themselves to go on outreach during their holidays or adopt a group and pray for them for a month or as God leads.
The Life of a Giver
In the years we lived in Zambia, one young man called Joshua would regularly bless my family. He often brought 20% of his meagre income to bless my kids with something special. Their childlike delight and joy lifted his spirit, he said. It made him feel part of something more. Something bigger. Something special. It was not only the joy and gratitude of the kids that made him smile but the knowledge that He was part of his heavenly Father’s plans and purposes in the here and now.
I want to encourage each reader to pause, pray and give regularly. It will refresh and fill each one with joy, a sense of purpose and a deepening relationship with the ultimate Giver of life.
