As we enter this Sixth Sunday in Lent in our book study of Max Vincent’s “Because of This I Rejoice,” we explore one of the foundations of a healthy Christian life: joyful giving. I appreciate Vincent for beginning his chapter with the honest reality that life can be often difficult and present us with daunting challenges. He thoughtfully explains that we can have a deeply held gratitude for God’s goodness in our lives by realizing that even while facing difficulties, we discover God’s goodness is ever present, allowing us to give thanks for the blessings we enjoy. A joyful thankfulness changes one’s perspective and attitude. Although this may feel a bit too good to be true at first thought, I believe Vincent’s discussion of Paul’s advice to the Philippians has much to be considered. So, how can we welcome this attitude of joyful giving into our lives?

Vincent begins his explanation of “Joyful Giving” with a straightforward example of radical belief in people’s giving and gratitude in the most difficult of all circumstances: The Great Depression. Vincent references the book, “The Sound of Trumpets,” written by Bishop Arthur J. Moore in 1934, to highlight the mission of helping others throughout the world, even in the midst of difficult circumstances in one’s home community. Vincent explains that one important goal of Bishop Moore’s book was to proclaim the continued work of the Gospel throughout the world, and the fact that this important work depended on Christians everywhere, at all times. The example of Moore’s missionary work highlights Paul’s understanding of our relationship with God. Vincent writes in his section “Giving from Thanksgiving,” – “Paul understands his relationship with the Philippians not as a direct relationship, but as part of a three-way relationship between God, Paul, and the Philippians. God gives the gifts, and the Philippians steward God’s resources. For Paul, the type of benevolence he encounters from the Philippians is a fruit of Christian joy. Joy produces generous givers in thanksgiving for what God has done and is doing in the world.” In this explanation, we are not ones who give things of our own making, but we are ones who give God’s gifts to people and places where these gifts will be used for the goodness of all. I believe Vincent’s point here is better understood when one has cultivated an attitude of abundance. The “joyful giving” Vincent describes is far more challenging when one lives with an inward attitude that is focused on the scarcity of life; the idea that “there probably isn’t enough for everyone.” The open hearted understanding of abundance allows one to trust God and to open one’s hand to give gifts to those who might be able to use them for the benefit of others.

Finally, putting all of these ideas together, I appreciate Vincent’s concluding sections. I especially enjoyed his honesty and the points he made in the section, “Think on these things.” Vincent writes, “We know joy through expressing gentleness to all, no matter how they treat us. This gentleness stems from confidence that the Lord is near rather than from a lack of concern or timidity.” This is the same confidence in God and courage in loving others expressed by Jesus in the Gospel stories. The idea of gentleness and confidence in relationship with God and with others made me think of the joyful attitude of a dog playing fetch. The most simple object (a stick) can be used for hours of joyful giving and receiving in a game of fetch: the one who throws the object gives away what they possessed for the joy of the dog, and the dog happily runs and retrieves the object, giving it back in hopes the game of giving will begin again. When we give from our hearts, we give from the One source of all good gifts, God alone.