JfK, I love reading your posts. You're no nonsense, and know how to drill right in to the heart of a matter. I've also been able to realign a few of my thoughts due to some of the things you have said, and that's another plus.
That being said, I can't believe how far away we are on our positions on this. I understand the scriptures you reference, and they have changed me. But let me expound.
As I continue, keep two things in mind. One, I know God is in charge of who lives and dies. No argument there. Two, is:
Philippians 2:13 (KJV) | For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Ray has said somewhere in one of his papers, as God does Phil 2:13, He hides it from us. I can not feel what He is doing so as I put it, "I just do what I know to do". Going on:
My wife and I volunteer for an organization that targets at risk (mostly younger) women considering abortion. When they bought the building for their present location, they needed a lot of help. Being computer savy, I handle their computer needs. I ran the cables to network three of their offices across two floors, and installed all the hardware to get them up and running. There were also people who installed walls, painted, replaced windows and a myriad of other things that I'm not very good at.
Was that a good thing to do? Of course, but there is no way any of us could have accomplished what we did without others knowing what we were doing. I know God wanted me to do that (now) because if He didn't then I wouldn't have done it. Out of all the volunteers, I was the only one with the knowledge to give them what they needed. I believe God provided for that need with the background He gave me.
Now I move on, and the organization started a membership drive as a fundraiser. My wife and I decided on our donation. Not a big deal, we share what we have when we think it's the right thing to do. At their annual meeting, where they detail what they are doing with their funds they had a time when they acknowledged the top four levels of giving. When our names were read off, neither of us were tickled about it. The next year when we decided what to give, we also told them we wanted it to be anonymous. It was, but there were still a few people who had to know what we did.
So I'm not quite sure how you are understanding what Jesus was teaching? Are you saying I should not support this organization because there is no way I can do it in secret?
If the only time I help anyone or give financially is when it isn't possible for anyone to know what I am doing, I just won't be able to help anyone very often.
Philippians 4:11-12
King James Version (KJV)
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
For me the above goes hand in hand with what Jesus taught about giving. I do know what it is like not to want. I also know what it is like to eat out of garbage cans, because there was a time in my life where that is how I survived. As I went from one to the other though, I found out up close and personal what the love of money can do to a person. I understand (at least for me) exactly what Jesus was talking about when He spoke on giving. Because I felt it, and I felt it hard. It's the understanding that led me to say please make this gift anonymous.
Rant over, but remember:
Acts 4:36-37
King James Version (KJV)
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
No secret here, they laid it out for all to see. But then look what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. They both did the same exact thing, but one did it right and one did not. I don't think we're being told that we have to find a way where no one can see our works. I just think we're being told not to do it like Ananias and Sapphira.