Question: We are told so often that we should give more to God and we should do more for God, we should give more money and more time. We should spend more time in the Word and more time in prayer. I wonder – is there any allowance for spending our time or money for any other purpose?

May we watch a ballgame, read a novel, go to a race, see a movie or go shopping? It doesn’t appear that the solution is to become a monk, for although they devote a great deal of time to God they are secluded from the world and don’t seem to be able to reach people for Christ.

Television ministries and Christian radio ask for money on air. Other ministries send things through the mail. Whether they ask for money or not nearly all tell you that you need to devote more time to God.

I know that we are saved by grace and not works but we keep getting the message that we are not doing enough. I know that I do not give or do enough and I don’t feel that anyone truly can, but that doesn’t comfort me much. It distresses me when I cannot (or maybe choose not to) support ministries that I receive a great deal of edification and information from.

Thank you and God bless,

Mark

Answer: Dear Mark,

Each of us as Christians can only do so much, and of course, as you noted, our "doing" is not salvific – doing things does not give us salvation.

We are saved by grace, not by works, - but a more complete statement would be that we are saved by grace FOR works (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Having been saved there is only one appropriate response for us, and that is to be obedient to Jesus Christ.

Giving of our time, talents and treasures for the kingdom is part of the New Testament message. This is not to say that each one of us must support every church, denomination, and ministry, any more than any one of us is responsible to feed and clothe every child that lives in our town. Giving does begin at home, at the household of faith. We should support, as we can and as we decide, the church and the ministries that nourish us and give us spiritual direction. But we must also take care of our families, and live normal, fulfilling lives as we believe we ought and we can.

Jesus is clear about the dangers of legalism, and the rest of the New Testament adds to his teaching. We are not to live in fear of sinning, worried about fulfilling a humanly devised laundry list of do’s and don’ts. We are to live according to the new commandments of Jesus. And those are outlined for us in the New Testament.

Jesus told us to come to him, to give our burdens to him (Matthew 11:28). We all need to be careful that we do not accept or shoulder burdens that rightly belong to our Lord.

Let me know if we can be of further help on this question.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht