Giving to Kingdom Work
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women… These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3)
We have been invited to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy word. This season prepares us for the celebration of the passion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and embrace the newness of life that He brings us. Enjoy the amnesty and the abundant grace for spiritual progress.
When Jesus spent time preaching the Kingdom of God, he fed multitudes, travelled the entire Palestine and neighbouring regions, maintained his cell of disciples – and all this consistently for about three years. Have you ever wondered how this great ministry work was funded? Today we meet women in Luke 8:1-3, who generously gave to the work of the gospel, exemplifying the fact that generosity is a great virtue. We need to be reminded and challenged to keep faithful in this noble discipline, because there is an inherent tendency to relax and give in to selfishness or indifference.
Growth and progress in personal and institutional life are partly indicated and made visible by long-term assets. While in the case of David’s Kingdom of Israel they needed a temple for their God, the time of Jesus needed support for consistency of their itinerant mobile gospel ministry. Today we also have worked hard to build and beautify physical structures where we worship corporately, with relevant extensions to cover children, teens, and offices; we have also provided for facilities such as music, media and public address system equipment. Nonetheless, there still remains a lot of work to do, and this reminds us that our giving is still necessary.
St. Augustine observed that, that wherever they preached the gospel the apostles brought women of holy life with them, so that these women might minister the necessities of life to them from their abundance – following the example of Jesus. As Albert Barnes comments, Christians then believed, when they professed to follow Christ, that it was proper to give “all” up to him – their property as well as their hearts; and the same thing is still required that is, to commit all that we have to his disposal, to be willing to part with it for the promotion of his glory, and to leave it when he calls us away from it.
We saw that when King David and many other people of various positions and ranks gave willingly, the result was not pain in loss, but great rejoicing. The women in Luke 8 also perfect their healing by this ministry of generosity. Through this act of worship and devotion, God fills us with the joy and deep satisfaction which our hearts long for. May God give you the grace to be ever faithful in this noble discipline.
God bless you!