Scarcity and unlimited appetite

Give out an image: (thanks Tom)

Give out a thought: ‘The two main axioms of classical economics are: 1) the natural condition of scarcity; and 2) unlimited human appetite. These, Lowery writes, “breed resignation to systems of distribution so unequal as to guarantee homelessness and starvation. Sabbath economics, however, based on “the principles of abundance and self-restraint turn this classical economic approach on its head. If you assume that resources are abundant, sufficient for the survival and prosperity of human life, and that human needs and wants are limited, then no one need starve or suffer the elements through lack of housing or clothing.” The conclusion we must draw, says Lowery, is that “long-term, systemic hunger, homelessness and poverty can be viewed only as a failure of human will.”

Cited in Ched Myers, ‘The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics.’

Give out an action: take a shoe box to work and leave on your desk - leave a note saying that you would like to fill it with specific items over next few weeks and then send it via "samaritans purse"

Ask why!

Give out an image:

Todays pictures come from a friend in Australia. Here's an explanation:

I wondered whether you might be able to make use of the attached pictures - taken through the bush fires that have swept through Victoria. Based on Monday's 'The earth is the Lords and everything in it.' I thought it'd serve as a reminder of our fragility but also in God's provision (based on your 'Explanation' on the blog). It's been pretty amazing to see 

how people support and help each other in the most devastating of times, but equally frustrating that it's only in these times that it happens and not just all the time!

Give out a thought:

‘If God has put enough into the world then why are there poor people?’ This question regularly exercises many conversations around poverty. The Christian tradition is littered with people who have tried to answer this question. In Latin America during the 70s, 80s and 90s a number of Christ followers not only got involved in the lives of the poor and began addressing the questions as to why they were poor in the first place. Dom Helder Camara was a Brazilian bishop in one of the poorest parts of the nation. He famously said, "when I feed the hungry, they call me a saint. When I ask why the hungry don't have enough food, they call me a Communist."

Lord open our eyes to see the injustice in the world, our hearts to respond to your compassion, and our minds to discover new possibilities.

Give out an action:

Search the internet to discover some of the many theories and opinions as to why people are poor. Spend time thinking through the reasons you would give, it may help to write a paragraph outlining your position. Contemplate what small steps you can make this week to respond to these reasons.

A prayer for this week

Give out a thought and an action:

At the start of each week we'll combine thinking and action in a prayer exercise. Take your time, meditate on each line and prepare for how God may want to transform you this week. 

'The earth is the Lords and everything in it.' (Psalm 24)

Lord we remember that you have given us all things and that they belong to you. This week as we spend money, help us to remember this.

'The earth is the Lords and everything in it.'

Lord we remember that you created and are re-creating all things. May we use our resources in partnership with your redemptive plan for the earth.

'The earth is the Lords and everything in it.'

Lord we remember that you created everyone. Yet, there are many who do not have enough resources to survive. In the silence, we pray for them now. We pray for .... (substitute with your own prayers)

'There is enough in the world for everybody's need, but not enough for anybody's greed.' (Gandhi)

Father, examine my heart today. Where is there greed? Where am I seeking to advance myself at the expense of others? Create in me a clean heart today.

Give out an image:

Responsible receiving

Give out a thought:

The dynamics of how God gives to us were outlined at the announcement to Abraham that from him a distinct people would be created. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2). This interplay between the benevolent giver and the responsible receiver is at the centre of our faith.

'Inscribed on the very heart of God's grace is the rule that we can be its recipients only if we do not resist being made into its agents; what happens to us must be done by us.'

Give out an image:

Give out an action:

This week I was sent a link to the video above. In all corners of the internet there seems to be pictures, videos, stories and thoughts that are encouraging us that generosity, compassion and hope are not dead. Spend 15 minutes hunting them out, and then encourage others by forwarding them onwards. If you find things that you think we should post then please send them to us (giveupgiveout@googlemail.com). Alternatively you could create your own today. Go take some photos and videos and we'll upload them for you.

Generous Giver

Give out a thought: Over the last couple of days we've looked at two images that Miroslav Volf uses to illustrate how we often misunderstand how God provides. Drawing this together he writes:

'God generously gives, so God is not a negotiator of absolute dimensions. God demands, so God is an not an infinite Santa Claus. So what is the relationship between God's giving and God's demanding? In other words, what is the difference between a Santa Claus God and a gift-giving God? The bare-bones answer is this: a Santa Claus God gives simply so we can have and enjoy things; the true God gives so we can become joyful givers and not just self-absorbed receivers. God the giver has made us to be givers and obliges us therefore to give.' 

Give out an image:

Give out an action: Get a bag of treats together - maybe chocolates, sweets or little novelty items. Then when an unwelcome distraction comes along, it may be you have to help someone when you are really busy, not only help them but give them a treat out of your bag as well.

God as santa claus

Give out a picture:

Give out a thought: The second image that Volf uses to describes that inaccurately depicts how we view God as giver is that of Santa Claus. He writes:

And indeed, many people think of God in this way, as a Santa Claus conveniently enlarged to divine proportions. God is an infinitely rich, always available, and unfailingly generous giver - or at least, that's what we feel a god worthy of divinity ought to be. God gives without conditions or demands... A Santa Claus God demands nothing from us. A divine Santa is indiscriminately giving and inexhaustibly fertile source of everything that is, and everything that is to come our way... But is it true that God demands nothing? If it were true, how could Jesus urge us, as he does in the Sermon on the Mount, to be perfect as God is?

Give out an action: Make a list of things that you feel God has given you. It could be an ability or gift, something physical, an opportunity, a relationship, literally everything God has given you. Think through how you have used these gifts responsibly in the last 24 hours. Create opportunities to use as many of these gifts as possible in the next day.

God the negotiator

Give out an image:

Give out a thought: In his book 'Free of Charge' Miroslav Volf outlines two images for how we view God as provider. He suggests that both of these distort not only the way we understand how God gives to us, but also how we approach him as giver. The first image is that of God as a negotiator in that we ask God to give us things based upon what we have brought or done for him. So, we say 'if I do this for you God, then will you give me that?' Volf explains, 'We don't think very far ahead when we embrace the image of God as negotiator... For one thing, God doesn't need anything we have to offer. God can walk away from any proposition. And as any negotiator knows, it is impossible to strike a good deal under these conditions... God's goods are not for sale: you can't buy them with money or good deeds. God doesn't make deals. God gives.'

Give out an action: words or item

Give a word - write, call, text, e-mail or speak to someone today who doesn't regularly hear from you - be generous in your comments.

Give an item - something which "costs" (i.e. causes a small intake of breath!). Donate it/ freecycle it/ ebay it and give the money away.