Day 107: How Much Can We Give?

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

The apostle Paul was in prison. The Philippians, to whom Paul had first preached, sent him money. He thanked them politely, but also reminded them that he already had all he needed, and they did too. He wrote,

Brothers and sisters, I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

We pay some attention to “how to live in humble circumstances,” because it’s painful. When we are in need — hungry, sick, alone — our condition gets our attention, fast. We may focus on our physical needs before our spiritual ones, but eventually we may give a glance above us, too.

I was struck, this week, that Paul doesn’t stop with lack. He quickly added, “I know also how to live with abundance.”

The Spiritual Struggle of Abundance

Why would Paul equate “the secret of being well fed and of going hungry”?

Most writers say Paul was talking about the temptation to get “attached” (as a Buddhist would say) to the abundance, to believe that we need to meet our material needs instead of counting on God to supply us with what we truly need (which may not be material food at all).

More broadly, this might mean forgetting that we belong to God when we have plenty. To one who has come face to face with Jesus, forgetting Him or substituting our will for His would indeed be catastrophic. Ever been deeply in love and had a dream that you forgot about your loved one and cheated on them? How terrible did it feel to awaken from that dream?

The Duty of Abundance

But hearing these words at Mass last night, at the end of another very long work week, I found myself wondering if Paul may have had another type of challenge in mind.

When we have plenty, we have two choices. We can make ourselves alone comfortable — eat, drink, and be merry. This may satisfy some, for a while.

But eventually, the world calls upon us to share. Sometimes it calls silently, like a hungry child staring in through the window as we feast. Sometimes it calls loudly, like a siren screaming through our comfortable ignorance.

If we love, we give of what we have. But even if our abundance is only relative, still we will meet many who have less than we do. We may be poor, but we have a loving family while others are alone. We may be alone, but we have a strong and healthy body while others are in pain. We may be in pain, but we have enough to eat while others are hungry.

How much can we give? When do we stop working to rest? When do we stop serving to eat? Can we empty ourselves completely? If we try, will we become an empty vessel?

Giving Abundantly

Paul contemplated abundance. He experienced it.

He didn’t cling to it, clearly. At the time he was writing, he had recently been imprisoned. I can’t imagine there was much abundance in a Roman or Caesarean prison. But Paul did not stop giving of what he had — a passionate love for Christ after a life-changing encounter with Him on the road to Emmaus.

Perhaps this hints at the secret of living well in abundance. We may freely enjoy the blessings God gives us, as long as we don’t hold anything back for ourselves.

Just as he gives us times of abundant food or abundant health, at times God gives us abundant rest. Perhaps we may enjoy that abundance as a way of renewing our joy in giving. And when our joy in giving is replenished by this abundant rest, we open our hearts and hands again.