It's Monday lunchtime. You've just bought your new shoes in the city centre and you're rushing back to work. You're weaving your way through the crowds of happy and relaxed shoppers when it catches your eye – the dreaded blue-bibbed figure, obviously almost frozen from standing outside all morning, but enthusiastic smile intact nevertheless. You manage to skip off the curb and recklessly cross to the other side of the street before he spots you.

Alas, just as you reach the other side, you hear those all too familiar words… "Can I have a minute of your time?" Your heart sinks, you've been caught by another one and must now decide whether to rush on pretending you heard nothing, look irritated and mutter an excuse, or stop reluctantly and listen.

We've all been in this situation. The cause may be worthy and even something you might like to support, but you're immediately put off by the jovial yet guilt-enticing demeanour of the person who has somehow cornered you.

This reaction is somewhat strange considering we happily wander around streetsful of shops offering hundreds of opportunities to spend on ourselves. Yet somehow we find it irritating or even offensive for a few charity collectors to line a street hoping to find someone willing to make a difference by investing in others' survival rather than their own material gain. Our attitude both toward them and to selfless giving is intolerant and apathetic, and so often the tactics of the charity collector on the street serve as an excuse for us not to give. Yet if we stop to think about it, there are few commercial advertisements – things we unquestioningly ingest everyday – that should not make us feel appalled, offended, dehumanised and patronised.

However, as Christians, our giving should be generous. As David writes in 1 Chronicles 29 vv 11&14, "Everything in heaven and on earth is yours… We have given you only what comes from your hand." Our resources are not our own, and we should not resent giving to God, by helping the sick, poor or marginalised whether under the 'Christian' umbrella or not, that which is rightfully His.

Paul says our giving should also be joyful. 2 Corinthians 9 v 7 reads, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Paul also advises that our giving should be gracious. The Corinthians were to "excel in the grace of giving." (2 Cor 8 v 7), the result of which would be the increasing of praise and thanksgiving to God (2 Cor 9 v 11). Giving money to those in need should be part of our worship and seen as an immense privilege.

So the next time we spot that blue-bibbed figure in the street, maybe we should stop and think where and to whom our wealth belongs. As stewards of earthly resources, we should consider whether these be channelled into material items for our personal pleasure or into improving the quality of life for our fellow human beings made in God's image.

Louise Matthews

To comment on this or any other p.s. articles, please visit our p.s. weblog...

Kingdom Come…more than words is a joint initiative of Evangelical Alliance and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It runs from 30th January - 2nd February 2006. For further details visit: http://www.kingdomcomeireland.com/home.html

Interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries invites you to a Day of Prayer for our Land at St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast on Saturday, 28 January from 10am to 4pm. The theme will be: What does our country need at this time?