Sacrificial Giving
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Matthew 19:21-22
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Lord, when I work so hard for what I have, how can you ask me to give you so much? Sound familiar? This is an attitude toward giving many of us in the health professions can easily assume. We work hard for years with no pay or almost no pay while others our age are buying homes and starting families. When we finally do make some money, there is all the catching up with others and student loan debt. And we give so much to others through our profession. Surely God understands when I don't want to be more generous with others.
Unfortunately, this selfish thought is common. And it not only robs God of what is His, it robs us of spiritual blessings and joy we can only understand through sacrificial giving.
The most joyful Christian I knew working in the Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital in Pusan, Korea was not one of doctors or nurses. It was not someone in the chaplain's department. It was the head of the hospital's maintenance department. He was not as well educated as most working in the hospital. He was not as wealthy as most there. But he exuded a spiritual depth and joy that was there for all to see.
As I inquired about this man who spent many hours volunteering in our hospital's spiritual outreach programs and hours working for a children's evangelism association, I was not surprised to learn he was very actively involved in a local church. In fact, everyone referred to him as "Deacon Yoon". It was not surprising to learn that he supported his church financially through his tithes and offerings. But one part of the story was remarkable and surprising.
Several years before I arrived in Korea to work at Baptist Hospital, Deacon Yoon's church was building a new sanctuary. One Sunday morning, in the midst of the construction, the pastor announced to the congregation that available funds were insufficient for completing the building. Unless a large sum of money could be raised, construction would need to stop. That week, Deacon Yoon visited his pastor to share a decision. He and his family had prayed for a solution to the church's dilemma and had been given a solution. They had their own home appraised and the value was almost exactly the amount needed to complete the sanctuary construction. Deacon Yoon, his wife, and two children had decided to move into a tent, sell their home, and give the proceeds for the completion of the sanctuary. For two years until he could build another home, he and his family lived in that tent.
Through this selfless act of sacrifice, Deacon Yoon came to know a different level of spiritual maturity, spiritual joy, and dependence on God.
Lord, give us the faith to test you through sacrificial giving.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
