I was reading this morning Adrian Plass's take on Matt 5:42: "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Plass was approached by a "habitationally challenged" individual for money, and Plass gave him five pounds, saying, "I give you this money trusting that you will put it to the best possible use." The man replied, "Well, actually, I was thinking of having a drink." "Precisely," Plass replies, "that's exactly what we would have done with the money if I'd kept it. Goodnight to you."

Made me recall Michael Coren's column where he condemns the tax cuts the Ontario government was making on the grounds that we all know that the rich will only spend this extra money on imported brandy.

I've been uncomfortable with giving money away, and I know many others who feel the same. The grounds for this is often based on the concept of "good stewardship". I presume this comes out of the parable of the talents, and what I read in there is that God is dissappointed in us holding back rather than taking risks and giving. Yet "good stewardship" is used as an excuse to hold back and not give.

Yeah, people use money for vices. So do I. Yeah, money can end up in criminals' pockets. Is it possible that even this could come to good for the sake of the kingdom?

Truth be told, the directive of Jesus seems pretty straightforward, and outside of the stewardship excuse, what it really comes down to is that I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if I give my money for others' wants and needs, that there won't be enough for my wants and needs.