Psalm 132, 1 Peter 4:7-11

Psalm 132

1 Peter 4:7-11

Do You Serve The King?

November 25, 2012

Christ The King Sunday

Part 4 in Edgewood 2012 Stewardship Series

 

            We’re now into our fourth and final week of our Stewardship emphasis for this year. All of you should now have your copy of the 2013 budget and your Pledge Cards, and I pray you are ready to make your commitment for how you will use God’s gifts to you to help God’s work get done in the Church, the community, and the world.

 

            Remember the joke about the minister who told his congregation that the Church had  all the money it needed to do whatever God called then to do – but that most of the money the Church needed was in their wallets! Also remember that I’ve said that Stewardship does not just involve what was in your wallets – but that it has to involve everything you have.

 

Stewardship has got to be more than just giving your money – although that  certainly has to be a part of it. Stewardship has got to involve your life – all you have – everything God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, your Stewardship of what God has given you is your response to God.  You need to see what God has blessed you with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and want to return it to God for His work.

 

Today is not just the last Sunday for our Stewardship emphasis this year at Edgewood – in the Christian year today is Christ the King Sunday – the last Sunday of the Liturgical year before the beginning of a new Liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent next Sunday. Christ the King Sunday is a day for focusing on the fact that Christ is King over all the universe, and over your life. This is truly a good day to have Commitment Sunday as we look at Christ’s Kingship over us, and how you use what Christ – your King – has blessed you with.

 

Yes — Christ is King. But – do you serve Christ? Is Christ king over every aspect of your life? 

 

What would your life look like if you let Christ be the King – the ruler – over every aspect of your life — and gave every aspect of your life to Him for His work?  How would you live if indeed you gave every aspect of your life — your money – your time – your talents – or whatever God has blessed you with – to Christ for His work?

 

Today we celebrate that Christ is King. But – is Christ your king?

 

Do You Serve The King?

 

I would dare say that most us would answer that question by saying: Yes!

 

Or at least we would say that we want to serve Christ.

 

Christ is King.

 

This means that – if you are going to be His servant  – you are going to have to have to serve Him with all you have – all your money – all your time – all your talents – or whatever God has blessed you with.

 

As many of you know, I enjoy watching sports. I have a friend who bought a Dish TV system with some of the extra sports packages to go along with it.  He shared with me that – soon after he bought the system – his wife asked him if sports channels were the only ones their new system would receive!  After hearing about that, Sally made sure that our Dish system would pick up more than sports.  I’m just glad that we have 2 TVs and they can be tuned to different channels.

 

What this is leading to is an observation of mine that when a sports team plays a game they want to be – as they say — “in the zone.” “The zone” is a state of being in which an athlete is performing at his or her very best – it’s when they are utilizing their unique talents to the best of their ability when it matters most. When athletes are “in the zone” their mind and body are in sync. They execute with efficiency and precision. Their eyes blaze with confidence, and their opponents wither under their unrelenting assault. Or a least that’s the idea.  An athlete “in the zone” is supposedly almost unstoppable, and when an entire team is “in the zone” – well – their opponents don’t stand a chance.  When a team is “in the zone” their fans may start changing “start the bus” – letting the other team know they might as well load up and go home. 

 

But – you know — being “in the zone” isn’t something that only athletes should desire. Being “in the zone” is desirable in most every human endeavor. When an artist is “in the zone”, they see nothing but the subject and the canvas, and with deft strokes of the brush bring the image to life. When a surgeon is “in the zone”, they can stand for hours at the operating table performing minute and delicate procedures with no margin for error. When an actress is “in the zone”, they become the character they’re portraying. When a video game player is ‘in the zone”, they’re no longer on the couch pushing buttons, they’re in the maze or on the field or living whatever adventure is being played out on the screen.

 

To be “in the zone” is to be at your very best when it’s needed most, to be using your skills and talents to their maximum potential. It’s not just a great way to play a game or do a job or create a work of art — it’s the way God would have you to live if you want your life to count for God as much as God  wants your life to count for Him. A life that counts is a life that adds up to something when it’s all said and done. It’s a life that makes a difference in this world and in the lives of others for God’s glory.

 

I read about a man who was out for a run one winter day. He passed an older gentleman who was out for a walk.  The older gentleman was moving pretty slowly. As the jogger got closer he noticed that the older gentleman was leaning pretty heavily on the cane he held in his hands. He passed him – but on his way back to his house he noticed the older gentleman in his driveway.  The gentleman had paused – and was poking at the snow with his cane. When the jogger got close he could see the gentleman was trying to knock the snow off of some low lying branches that had been buried by the passing snow plow. It was taking considerable effort to beat back the heavy, wet snow. The jogger stopped and helped him – then went on his way. What struck him  about the scene was that it wasn’t enough for this gentleman to take a walk on a balmy February day. He had to do something, he had to get something accomplished.  He had to solve a problem.  He had to rescue his frozen branches. He wanted to walk back into the house knowing he’d done something worthwhile.

 

As I read the story I was struck by the fact that that should be the focus for all of our lives.  As you live your life, you should want to do more than just get some exercise and enjoy the scenery. You should want to do something. You should want to make a difference. You should want someone, or something, to be better off because you have passed their way. You should want your life to count for something. You should want to be “in the zone” – so to speak.

 

Do you serve the King?

 

Do you serve Christ – the King of all things?

 

If you are going to be a servant of Christ you are going to have to serve Him with all you have – all your money – all your time – all your talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. You are going to have to use all God has given you for His glory – so your life can be “in the zone” for Him – so you can make a difference for Him – so your life can count for Him.

 

In order to do really serve Christ – your King – be “in the zone” for Him – make a difference for Him – have your life count for Him – you have become a good Steward of the resources God has placed in your hands. Our passage from 1 Peter 4:7-11 gives some pointers – some instructions – on how to truly live a life that serve the King – a life that is “in the zone” for Christ.  

 

1 Peter was written to Christians who had been scattered into the pagan Roman territories of Asia Minor, or modern day Turkey. As followers of Christ in a pagan culture, they often felt like aliens and strangers. But Peter challenged them to be deliberate strangers, to live such good lives among the people that the people  might see their good works and come to know Christ through them. In other words, he wanted them to live lives that counted for Christ.

 

I see in this passage three qualities that can enable you to play, or work, or live, “in the zone” – to play, or work, or live as a servant of Christ – the King – letting every aspect of your life be used for Christ’s glory. 

 

The first quality you need is focus.

 

Focus on your strengths. When you’re “in the zone “ – when you are letting Christ use your strengths for His glory  — when you are utilizing your very best skills or talents to serve the King – to serve Christ – and make a difference for His glory in the world – you are truly serving Christ.

 

To be “in the zone” for Christ you need to find your strength – and use it. You don’t see a great quarterback on a football team playing linebacker. A great quarterback might be able to work hard and do a decent job playing linebacker, but it would be a waste of his talents. In the same way, if you want your life to count, you have to identify your particular gifts and your particular strengths, and then focus on using and developing them. Look at verse 10 in our passage for today:

 

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

 

Peter is reminding you that each of you have been given a unique combination of gifts and abilities by God to do His work in this world. Notice that each one of us has received gifts. Each person has been given special abilities to contribute to the life of the Church. When you discover your gifts – your strengths – and focus on using them for Christ and His work – when you’re living your life “in the zone” for God — when you’re able to focus your time and energy on using your gifts to the best of your abilities and for God’s glory — when you are letting Christ use your strengths for His glory  — when you are utilizing your very best skills or talents to serve the King – to serve Christ – and make a difference for His glory in the world – you are truly serving Christ. You are serving the King, and the impact can be almost supernatural.

 

When Billy Graham was in his prime and sharing the good news of Christ to a stadium full of people, he was “in the zone”. The results were supernatural, beyond what they would be if any one else were on that platform, because that was his gift. He identified it a long time ago, and made a strategic decision to operate within his “zone of effectiveness” and stay there for his whole life. He never pastored a church, though he’d probably do a better than average job of it. He never joined a seminary faculty as a professor of evangelism, though students would no doubt learn a lot from him. His focus on his talent of preaching enabled him to preach the good news to more people more effectively than any person who’s ever lived – and in focusing on his gift, he served  the King – he served Christ.

Now  – your gifts may not be as remarkably distinctive or fruitful as Billy Graham’s — but you have been entrusted with gifts for doing God’s work in the Church – the community – and the world – you have been entrusted with gifts for serving the King – you have been entrusted with gifts for accomplishing the work of Christ in the Church and in the world. You need to identify them. You need to use them. Natural talents—musical talent — artistic abilities —  mechanical skills, an aptitude for working with numbers, or words, or computers, or people, life experiences. All these things are gifts – and can be used for serving the King – for serving Christ – for doing His will and work in the Church and in the world.

 

Stewardship isn’t just about tithing your income – although that is indeed part of it — Stewardship means leveraging all of your God-given resources for the advance of the kingdom. It means using your gifts to serve the King here at Edgewood – but it also means using them every day – wherever you may be. A teacher, for example, that doesn’t take advantage of their  influence on students is not being a faithful steward, no matter how much money they are giving to the Church.

 

The point is that you  have been gifted with a unique set of abilities, experiences, talents, and training that enables you to make a difference in the world for Christ’s sake. You have gifts to give to Christ – to be used to serve Christ – your King – in the Church and beyond.  You will be “in the zone”, so to speak, and have the greatest impact on the world when you discover those areas of strength and focus on them.

 

Have you identified the gifts you have – the   unique set of abilities, experiences, talents, and training God has blessed you with – and how you can use them to serve Christ in the Church and the world? Have you identified how you can live “in the zone” for God’s glory – and be used for God in the Church and the world?

 

Are you “in the zone” for Christ?

 

The first element of living in the zone – of serving the King — is to discover your gifts, and focus on using them for God’s purposes.

 

The second element of operating “in the zone” – serving the King – using all you have for His glory and His work — making a difference for God in the world — is excellence. It’s not enough to be operating in your area of strength — being “in the zone” means doing it well, and attaining peak performance.

 

A musician “in the zone” isn’t just playing the instrument they love, they’re playing it well, to the best of their ability. A good football team is  an effective team when — week after week —  they manage to get “in the zone” and stay there. The offense clicks, the defense does their job, and special teams come through when they need to. It doesn’t happen because they try harder on game day than the other teams or want it more badly. It happen because of their commitment to preparing themselves all week long to be their very best against that particular opponent. Mentally, physically, relationally—they are disciplined.

 

Look at what Peter says about the exercise of your gifts in verse 11:

 

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides.”

 

Whatever your gift, wherever you serve,  do it with a commitment to being your very best. Whether your gift is singing, or playing an instrument, or teaching, or counting money, or balancing the books, or typing, or serving coffee, or holding babies, or whatever — do it to the best of your ability – because it is your gift to God and it is your service to the King. Be on time, fully prepared, attentive, and “prayed up” in advance. Whatever you do – it’s important – and should be done to the very best of your ability.  That’s what it takes to be excellent – what it takes to be “in the zone” for God – what it means to use all you have to serve the King.  

 

Do you serve the King? Are you giving all you have – your time – your money – your talents – to Christ?  Are you living “in the zone” – using your talents and gifts for God’s glory in the Church and the world?

 

“Living in the zone” requires focus and excellence. It requires working within your unique gifts and using them to the best of your ability. You need focus – and you need excellence.

 

A third thing you also need is intensity. To live “in the zone” — — to truly serve the King – serve Christ – with all your gifts and all your abilities – you  have to live with intensity.

 

If you’ve ever looked into the eyes of an athlete who is “in the zone” you know what I’m talking about. When an athlete is “in the zone” – it’s as though nothing exists beyond what’s happening on the field. They’re fully in the moment. There’s no distraction; no letdown, no holding back. Nothing matters—the weather, the crowd, or the sore ankle. The field they are playing on becomes for them the most important piece of real estate on Earth. Those 60 minutes of game time are the only moments that matter. The same is true for an artist or a musician or a writer or a carpenter or a surgeon. To be “in the zone” is to be fully engaged in the task at hand. That kind of intensity is essential to a life that counts for Christ – a life that is serving the King – a life where you are using all your gifts and abilities for God and God’s work in the Church, the community, and the world.

 

Peter addresses this intensity in verse 7 –

 

“The end of all things is near.”

The end of all things is near. What did he mean by that? Did he mean that Christ could return at any moment? That the world could come to an end at any time? Yes, that’s exactly what he meant. All the early believers lived with that sense of expectancy about Christ’s return. After all, He said he would be coming back. That awareness brought a sense of urgency, of intensity, to their lives. Every day mattered. Every decision had eternal consequences. Every denari they spent on themselves was one less denari to give to the poor. That was living with intensity. That was living a life that mattered – that was “in the zone” – that made a difference for Christ in the world. That was living a life that was truly serving the King.  

Of course – they were wrong in believing Christ would return at any moment.  We know that – now that it is 2,000 years later and Christ has not returned. But — were they wrong to live with such expectancy – such intensity? No, that’s how Christ-followers are supposed to live, even after 2,000 years of waiting. He didn’t say when He was coming back, He just said, “soon.” Now, apparently, His idea of soon is a little bit different than ours. Soon means anytime. Suddenly, unexpectedly, like a thief. Since you don’t know when a thief will strike, you lock your door every night. In the same way, since we don’t know when the end will come, we live every day like it could be our last, like we’re running out of time. Because we are.  Which means if you’re going to use your God-given gifts in service to others, use them now. Use them today. Not next year. Not when you get out of school. Not when the kids are older. Not when work slows down. Not when you retire. Now. Today. This moment. That’s being “in the zone” for Christ. That’s intensity. That’s truly serving the King.

Serving the King – being a good Steward of all the gifts God has given you – takes focusing on your God given gifts and abilities, using your God given gifts and abilities with excellence and using your God given gifts and abilities with intensity.

On this Christ the King and Commitment Sunday, I urge you to ask yourself if you are truly serving the King. 

Ask yourself —  how has God uniquely gifted me? What gifts, what life experiences, what natural talents, what professional skills has God given to me – and how can I better use my unique abilities for God’s  work  in my Church – my community – and the world? Ask yourself if you are living “in the zone” – focusing on God’s gifts to you – and using them with excellence and intensity?

Yes — Stewardship is indeed more than what’s in your wallet – but it’s using what’s in your wallet – your money – but also everything God has blessed you with – your time, your talents, your abilities, for God’s glory and the work of Christ in the Church, the community, and the world. It’s serving Christ the King with all we have.

In a few moments you are going to come down as we sing the next hymn and place your Commitment Cards for next year in the offering plates.  I pray that you  will make a commitment of your money, but will also make a commitment of your time, your talents, and your abilities so that you will be “in the zone” for Christ – and will truly be serving Christ – your king.  Amen

1 Samuel 2:1-10, Matthew 25:14-30

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Matthew 25:14-30

“Practice Thank – Filled Living” 

Part 3 of Stewardship Series 2012

November 18 2012

           

We are in the third week of our Stewardship emphasis for this year.  If you have not gotten your copy of the 2013 budget – along with my letter and your pledge card – from your box downstairs get it today and prayerfully consider your commitment to the Church for next year before Commitment Sunday next Sunday.

Remember the joke I told  a few weeks ago about how the minister told the congregation that the Church  had all the money it needed to do whatever God called them to do – but that most of the money the Church needed was in their wallets! Also remember that I said that stewardship does not just involve what is in your wallets – but that it had to involve everything you have. You see — Stewardship has got to be more than just giving your money – although that is certainly a part of it – but Stewardship has got to involve your life – it has got to involve what God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, your stewardship of what God has given you is your response to God – in other words, Stewardship involves seeing  what God has blessed you with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and returning a portion of it to God for His work in the Church, the community, and the world.  

            I pray that next Sunday when  it’s time for you to make your pledge for 2013 – that you will have a better understanding of what it means to give to God from all the gifts He has blessed you with, and will be better prepared to commit your money, your time, and your abilities to God according to how God has blessed you.

            Today I want you to consider how Stewardship requires you to see all the things God has blessed you with – and give thanks to God for all His gifts to you by using all God has blessed you with for His glory. I call a life of Stewardship a life of Thank – Filled Living.

            To be a good Steward of all God’s gifts to you, you need to practice Thank – Filled Living.       

            Jesus’ parable in our Gospel lesson from Matthew 25 for today can make you   question if you are using the gifts God has given to you and living the life of Thank Filled Living or not. The master in the story gives the servants huge sums of money.  A talent was 15 years worth of pay for a laborer.  A total of 8 talents are given here — so that makes for 120 years of pay for a laborer.  Quite a hefty sum indeed!  And it is obvious the master wants a return on his investment.  He is a rich man — but he is looking to get richer. He gives the 8 talents to 3 of his servants.

The first servant — let’s call him Zechariah — is given 5 talents.  This is what he would normally make in 75 years of labor.  Quite a hefty sum of money. 

What does Zechariah do with the money?  He invests it.  We don’t know how he invests it.  He uses what his master gives him — he risks it — and makes a 100% profit to give to his master. When the master returns, Zechariah is rewarded.

 

            Then there’s the second servant — let’s call him Zedikiah.  He is given 2 talents. Granted, it’s not as much as Zechariah — but about what he would make in 30 years — so still a hefty sum.

 

What does Zedikiah do with the money given to him?  Well, like Zechariah, he invests it.  Like Zechariah, he uses what his master has given him — he risks it — and makes a 100% profit doing so.  When the master returns, Zedikiah is rewarded for his investment — just as Zechariah was. 

 

            So far so good.

 

            But then we have the third servant.

 

            Let’s call him Jehu. Jehu is given 1 talent — not as much as Zechariah or Zedekiah — but still what he would make in 15 years labor.  It is still a hefty sum. But Jehu is different than Zedikiah and Zechariah.  He is different in that he is scared. He is scared to take a risk and to invest what his master has entrusted him with. 

 

            So, the master returns, and after rewarding Zechariah and Zedikiah for their profitable risk-taking, he pointedly reprimands Jehu  for what he did. You see — Jehu did nothing — and instead of being rewarded for at least not losing what his master has given him, he is is reprimanded and punished because he did nothing with it.  

 

            Zechariah — Zedikiah — Jehu.

 

            Three servants given three different amounts of money that they use in 3  different ways.

 

            And who is the master pleased with? 

 

            He’s pleased with the two who risked what had been given — not the one who is careful. He’s pleased with the ones who used what he had given them – not the one who took what he had given him but did nothing with it.

 

You know — Jesus is telling a story of economics here — but there is more than simple economics going on here.  There is a spiritual side to the story  also — and that’s where the real point to the story is made.  There is a side to this story that questions your relationship with God and how you use the gifts God has given you. If you are honest with yourself you know that God blesses you with so much.  He gives so much to you.  Maybe not monetarily — like the master in the parable — although money is indeed a blessing from God for many of us — but God has also blessed you with abilities. God has not blessed you with the same abilities He has blessed others with – but they are all gifts and abilities given to you by God — and to be used for God’s glory in the world and to do Gods work in the Church — the community – and the world.

 

            So – what are you doing with all that God has given you? What are you doing with all the things – whether it be money – time – or abilities – that God has blessed you with? Are you joyfully and thankfully seeing all God has given you – and using all He has given you for His glory and His work in the Church – the community – and the world?

 

            Are you practicing what I call Thank –Filled Living?

 

            Are you like Zechariah or Zedekiah — using what God has given you  — thankful for what you have been blessed with — and using your money – your time – and your talents for God’s glory ? Or — are you more like Jehu – not using what God has blessed you with?  If you are like most people, there are too many times when you don’t use what God has blessed us with for God’s glory and to get the work of God done in the Church, the community, and the world.  There are too many times that you don’t practice Thank Filled Living by seeing what God has blessed you with and using it for God.

 

Maybe you bury your money – or your abilities – or your talents.

 

Maybe you bury them under feelings of little self- worth or little importance  — saying things like:             “I’m not that important. What I have to offer won’t make a difference.” That’s just an excuse, friends.  You don’t know how much of a difference you can make until you  try. You don’t know what you can do with what God has given to you until your try.  

 

Maybe you bury your money – your abilities — your talents — under laziness — saying things like:             “It’s too hard to use what God has given me. I don’t want to get that involved.” Or whatever other excuse you may want to give. Friends – if you are burying what God has given you under laziness – you might want to think more about how God has given His all for you – and how You can give for Him and His work.

 

Maybe you bury your money – your abilities — your talents — under an attitude  of just not caring about the fact that you can make a difference if you use what God has given you for God’s glory.  If that’s your attitude, I would suggest you repent and let God change your attitude.

 

Maybe you have buried your money – your abilities – or your talents under an attitude of “nobody asked me to do anything”. If that’s your attitude, I would suggest you listen when God asks you to use what He has given you to get His work done in the Church – the community – and the world.

 

Friends – if you have money – or a talent – or an ability – that God has given you – and all of us do – you need to use it. You need to step up and give your tithe – your 10% of  your financial blessings —  and you need to step up and do things that need to be done. You might need to coordinate what you do with others – but believe me – the help will be most appreciated – and you will be using what God has given you to do His work and will in the Church, the community, and the world.

 

You need to see what God has blessed you with – everything God has blessed you with – and use it for God’s glory. You need to see what God has blessed you with and give thanks to God for it by using it. You need to practice Thanks Filled Living.

 

For many folks it boils down to fear – just as it did for the third servant in Jesus’ parable. For many it boils down to being afraid to risk — afraid to take a chance with the money and the abilities God has blessed them with – and laziness – being too lazy to use what God has given them to do His work and will in the Church, the community, and the world.

 

What it really boils down to is not seeing what God has given you – and not using it to get His work done in the community – the Church – and the world.

 

It boils down to not seeing what God has blessed you with and responding to God by thankfully using His blessings in your life for His glory.  It boils down to not practicing Thank – Filled Living.  

 

            If God were to ask you – “What did you do with all I gave you?” You need to be able to say to God: “I used it – with thanks – to get Your work done in the Church – the community – and the world.”

 

Think about how you use what God has blessed you with.  Are you committed to seeing how you can use what God has given you? Are you committed to seeing God’s many gifts to you – and using them for God’s will? Are you committed to living a life of thankfully using God’s many blessings?

 

If God has blessed you with money – use it – and use it thankfully — for His glory.  Give your tithe – and if you can – give more – to get His work done in the Church – the community – and the world.  If God has given you some musical talent or a love for singing – use it – joyfully and thankfully – as the Church continues it’s strong music ministry. If  God has given you the ability to listen to the needs of others – use it – with joy and thanksgiving.  Be a “listening ear” for those in need and respond to them with the love of God.  If God has given you the ability to help those in need – do it – thankfully and joyfully – as you show God’s  love to them.  If God has given you the ability to work with children or young people — showing them the love of God in real and vital ways – do that – joyfully and thankfully – and let them know of God’s love and yours. If God has given you the ability to work with adults — or Senior Citizens – do that – joyfully and thankfully – and show them God’s love. If  God has given you the ability to teach – do that – joyfully and thankfully – as you tell others about God.  If God has given you the ability to do things with your hands — building or fixing things or making crafts —  do that – joyfully and thankfully — whether it be by doing odd jobs around the Church — or by fixing up houses of those not able to do work like that any more – or by making crafts that will bring joy to people’s lives or blankets or afghans to keep them warm.  If God has given you the ability to cook — or to serve others – do that – joyfully and thankfully.  If God has given you the ability to talk to others about God’s love in an exciting way – do that – joyfully and thankfully – as you share the Good News of God’s love.

 

Be committed to seeing God’s gifts to you – whether it be money, abilities, or whatever God has given you – and thankfully using these gifts to get God’s will done in the Church – the community – and the world. There is so much to be done for God’s glory – and every tithe and every ability is needed.

 

Let God teach you  how to practice Thankful Living. Let God show you what your gifts and abilities are – and think about those gifts and abilities you may have left buried for years. Dig up those buried abilities and use them.  You’ll be surprised what you will discover when you start looking for new ways to serve God.  Dig up you talents and abilities from whereever you have hidden them — and use them – thankfully and joyfully – for God.  If you are not sure what your talents or abilities are  — or how you can use them  for God’s glory and the benefit of others — pray about it — or talk to me about it.  I’ll be happy to help you discover what your gifts and abilities are — and how to dig them up and use them.

 

            Have you ever considered what we – as a Church – can get done if we all were to realize and joyfully use God’s gifts given to each of us for His work in the the Church – the community – and the world?  I think we would be surprised. I think we would be shocked. And I know the community and the world – and we – would be blessed. 

 

            We are going to be celebrating Thanksgiving this week.  What better time than Thanksgiving to assess what God has blessed you with – and how you use what He has blessed you with? What better time than Thanksgiving to pray that God will show you your gifts – and give you a vision for how you can thankfully and joyfully use all the gifts He has given you for His work in the Church, the community, and the world? What better time than Thanksgiving to commit yourself to Thankful Living?

 

Friends — Stewardship involves your life. It involves everything you have.  It  has to be a commitment of everything God has blessed you with — your money – your time – your talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. All that God has given you has to be joyfully and thankfully given back to God for God’s work in the world if you are going to truly be good stewards of God’s gifts to you. It involves a life of thankfully seeing God’s gifts – and joyfully sharing them with others for God’s glory.  It indeed involves Thankful Living.

 

            Again – if you have not retrieved  the 2013 budget, a letter from me, and a pledge card from your box downstairs, get it today— look at it – and pray about it.  Prayerfully consider how you can use what God has given you so God’s work can be done in the Church, the community, and the world.

 

            Pray that God will show you what He has given you – and how you can practice Thank – Filled Living. Amen.            

 

Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11–19

An Attitude of  Gratitude

Jonesboro Community Thanksgiving Service

November 18, 2012

I read recently about a father who was riding with his son on a commuter train outside of New York City. They were surrounded by middle-aged, potbellied, balding men who were worn out and tired. Their clothes were wrinkled and their  shirts heavy with perspiration as they hunched over in their seats and clutched their copies of The Wall Street Journal. The father recounts that, after they got off the train, his son looked at him and said: “Dad, they all seemed so depressed.”

That’s a pretty accurate description of many people – or at least the way many people appear to be from the looks on their faces. Have you noticed how few people appear to be to be really happy? As you observe people from your automobile, or see them walking in the grocery store or the shopping malls, you may see face after face looking tired, worn out, bored, or just drained of any emotion. It may seem that you can go for hours without encountering a single person who looks truly happy.

Yea – I know that life gets more serious as we get older — but sometimes it may seem that even kids are not as carefree as they were in the past. It’s a fact that team spirit and school enthusiasm have significantly weakened at the secondary level all over our country. High school students are a lot more serious than they once were. When you notice young people not having as much fun as they’re really entitled to have, you realize this is a symptom of a serious problem.

Now — there are a lot of reasons for the feeling that people – young and old alike – may not seem to be as happy as they can be. Many young people are from hurting and broken homes. The economy is not as promising as it once was and adults and young  people alike face doubt about the future.

Even in the face of all the problems of society this day and time, though, I believe that one of the most important things Christians can  do for others is to   help them learn to laugh and be happy. I believe Churches should be places of joy – and I believe they will be if we learn some of the secrets of joy and an attitude of gratitude.

One of the secrets of a joyful spirit is coming to understand the graciousness of God. Yes – God is mighty, holy, and awesome – but God is also a gracious, generous, giving, compassionate, and merciful God who cares about you more than you care about yourself.

You know — if we can come to appreciate and understand the gracious, generous, giving, compassionate, and merciful God we serve, and let that understanding of God work its way into how we live our lives — and into our thoughts, our emotions, and our relationships — we can be transformed by the grace of God into people who are overflowing with God’s love and grace – and sharing Gods love and grace with others. We can become more thankful people, and thankful people are joyful people. We can develop an attitude of gratitude.

We are here tonight for our Community Thanksgiving service – and this Thursday I bet almost all of us will be with family and friends enjoying the day—so it’s appropriate that – as we come together tonight as God’s people  from different churches in this community – we reflect on how we can become thankful people – and have what I call an attitude of gratitude.

The Gospel passage from Luke 17 I read a few moments ago helps us reflect on the importance of being thankful for God’s goodness to us. With the story of the ten lepers, Luke emphasizes how rare – but how necessary – a  thankful spirit is.  

You know — gratitude is rarely expressed. Only 1 out of  the 10 healed lepers returned to say “thank you”.  Gratitude is not expressed as much as it should be.

A clergyman included this item in his annual parochial report: “Nine persons lost at sea.” When the congregation read it, they expressed shock and amazement. He said, “Well, eleven people came to me this year as they were preparing for vacation cruises and requested prayers for their safety, but only two came to me when they returned and asked me to give thanks for a safe return. So I assume the other nine were lost at sea.”

Yea—gratitude is rarely expressed. 

A man working at his desk at the post office was approached by an older fellow who had a post card in his hand. The old man said, “Sir, could you please address this post card for me?” The man gladly did so, and he agreed to write a short message on the post card, and he even signed it for him. Finally the man doing the writing said to the older man, “Now, is there anything else I can do for you?” The old fellow thought about it for a minute, and he said, “Yes, at the end could you just put, ‘P.S. Please excuse the sloppy handwriting.'”

How often do you hear people express sincere gratitude?

Try this.  Keep track of the number of complaints you hear each day, and compare that with the number of times you hear people express sincere words of gratitude. The list of complaints will probably be longer than the list of words of gratitude.

I read of a man who went to watch his son run in a track meet.  When he arrived at the meet he was preoccupied with problems at his job and other problems in his life. As he watched the meet, however, he also remembered his days of running in track meets breathed a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the abilities and experiences God had blessed him with. He told me he prayed: “Lord, thank you so much for all the experiences You have blessed me with.” He said that he then sort of loosened up a bit and looked around him.  The sky was blue, the leaves were yellow, the air was crisp. He told me that he began to enjoy the beautiful day and before long forgot his problems and quietly thanked God for the beauty of the world around him.

Gratitude is from the same root word as the word “grace.” A person who has begun to accept how gracious God is to them becomes a grateful person. Thanksgiving  is from the same root word as the word “think.” So, to think about life accurately is to thank God continuously in the midst of life, and this involves an attitude of gratitude.

Let me suggest three simple reasons you can have for being thankful and develop an attitude of gratitude.

First, be thankful for – and develop an attitude of gratitude for — all the resources God has given you. God has blessed you with a mind and challenges you to use it.  God has blessed you with abilities to use and ways to serve Him and others.  Give praise to God for all the resources He has blessed you with, and use them for His glory.

Maybe some of you here this evening are going through a hard time in your life.  Well, I would think that, whatever difficulties you might be experiencing, you could sit down and without any trouble make a list of at least fifty concrete things for which to give God thanks. And that’s probably the best therapy there is for a troubled spirit or a worried mind.

A second reason to be thankful and develop[ an attitude of gratitude is the providence of God. Over and beyond all things that happen, God is at work.  God is guiding, directing, and bringing about His purposes in your life. Job said he’d learned one thing: the purposes of God would not be thwarted or frustrated. If you can accept that, you’ ll always be able to give thanks. 

Do you remember the book The Hiding Place?  In it Corrie ten Boom tells about her experiences while hiding from the Nazi soldiers during World War II.  She relates one incident that taught her the principle of giving thanks in all things.  Corrie and her sister, Betsy, had been harboring Jewish people in their home, and were finally discovered, arrested and imprisoned at Ravensbruck Camp. The barracks was extremely crowded and infested with fleas. One morning they read, in their tattered Bible, from 1 Thessalonians the reminder to rejoice in all things. Betsy said, “Corrie, we’ve got to give thanks for this barracks and even for these fleas.” Corrie replied, “No way am I going to thank God for fleas.” But Betsy was persuasive, and they did thank God even for the fleas. During the months that followed, they found that their barracks was left relatively unsupervised, and they could do Bible study, talk openly, and even pray in the barracks. It was their only place of refuge. Several months later they learned that the reason the guards never entered their barracks was because it was so infested with fleas.

Learn to give praise to God for His providence in your life – even when you can’t readily recognize it.

The third reason for giving God thanks and developing an attitude of gratitude is that we’re commanded to be thankful. For our welfare, we’re told over and over to give thanks. Paul says we’re  to be joyful and pray continually. We are to give thanks in all circumstances—”For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

A minister shared about how he was with a group of men at his Church and one of them shared with how he had been learning the lesson of giving God thanks in difficult times. He talked with some pain, about serious job problems, and how his wife had been recently diagnosed with cancer. He said that he had been learning to give God thanks in the midst of these difficulties. Choosing, as an act of the will, to thank God in whatever circumstances shows spiritual maturity. It not only pleases God, it puts our problems in proper perspective.   

To  stop in the midst of a problem in your life and simply breathe a three-word prayer, “Thank you, Lord,” can change everything. If you want to be a joyful person, you’ve got to develop an attitude of gratitude. You have got to develop a thankful spirit – because a thankful spirit produces a joyful person. People who focus on their difficulties are difficult to be around. People who focus on their blessings are a blessing to be around. Gratitude is the ground out of which a peaceful, thankful, trusting spirit can develop. Our tendency is to focus on our problems rather than on our blessings. If you want an attitude of gratitude, you need to reverse that – you need to focus more on your blessings than your problems.   

            I heard a story about a ship that was wrecked, and the only survivor washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He was exhausted, and cried out to God to save him. Every day he scanned the horizon, searching for help. Finally, he managed to build a rough hut and put his few articles in it. One day, coming home from hunting for food, he was stung with grief to see his little hut in flames and a cloud of smoke. The worst, he was sure, had happened, and he knew that God had forgetten about him. But early the next day, a ship came and rescued him.  He asked the crew, “How did you know I was here?” They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.”

 

            If you are going through a difficulty in your life, it may be a smoke signal that will lead to a greater blessing. Even in the midst of problems in life, you can depend on God to be with you – and praise God for His blessings in your life. 

I sometimes think we could help each other a whole lot by simply asking, “What are you thankful for today?” instead of “How are you today?”

Jesus asked “Weren’t nine others healed? Where are they?”

God has met so many of your needs. God has answered so many of your prayers. Have you thanked God? Will you be overcome by your problems, or will you choose to thank God and have an attitude of gratitude? Amen

 

1 Kings 17:1-24, Luke 21:1-4

1 Kings 17:1-24

Luke 21:1-4

Are You Really Giving?

November 4, 2012

Part 1 of 20012 Stewardship Series

                A minister stood before his congregation as his Church began it’s Stewardship Season and gave the old line: “Today I have good news and bad news.”               All eyes looked at him to see what he would say next.  “The good news” – he said “Is that after much prayer I have come to the realization that this Church has all the money it needs to do whatever we wish to do” Everyone looked puzzled – especially the Elders and the head of the Finance Committee — for they knew better – and besides, they had never heard of a minister standing before a congregation and declaring that the Church had all the money it needed.  What kind of beginning to the Stewardship Season was that? But the minister persisted. “Yes – the good news is the Church has all the money it needs to do whatever we want – but” – he continued – “the bad news is – most of that money is in your wallets.”

That’s the case with many churches – is it not? They may have all the money they need – but it may be in the wallets of the members. 

Yes – good news and bad news.  The church may have all the money it needs – but it may be in your wallets. Maybe – as we begin our Stewardship Season – I should be like the Capitol One Credit card commercial and pose the question: “What’s in your wallet?” But – you know – there is more to stewardship than what’s in your wallet.  Stewardship has got to be more than just giving your money – although that is certainly a part of it. Stewardship has got to involve your life – it has to involve what you have – it has to involve what God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, our stewardship of what God has given us is our response to God – we see what God has blessed with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and we want to return a portion of it to God for His work in the world.  

During the month of November we are going to look at different aspects of stewardship – and I pray that we’ll see that God has blessed us here at Edgewood with all the money – all the talents – and all the abilities we need to do whatever God has called us to do.  I pray that we will come to the understanding that – while what’s in your wallet is a part of your stewardship — stewardship is about more than what’s in your wallet – it’s about your life.

One element of stewardship – and your life as a Christian – is trust.  Trusting God is certainly one aspect of stewardship. One aspect of stewardship is trusting God enough to really give back to God what He has given to you — and trusting that God will meet your needs – and meet  much more than your needs – when you really give back to God what God has given to you.  

What do you think constitutes real giving to God? What do you think real giving to God is? What kind of giving do you think pleases God, honors God,  and advances God’s work in our Church, our community, and the world? While the “good news, bad news” line that the church may have all the money it needs – but it may be in your wallets — may be funny – and real giving to God needs to include what’s in your wallet as the Capital One Credit Card slogan says – real giving – real stewardship — also needs to include more than what’s in your wallet.  Our scripture passages before us today – with stories of  2 widows and a prophet – show us how stewardship is about trusting God.

In our Old Testament passage from 1 Kings 17 Elijah and the widow of Zarephath both give more than “what’s in their wallets” to God. They give their all to God.  They give God all they have, and trust that God will provide for them. As our passage begins, Elijah has just given the King God’s word that there would be a drought. You can imagine the situation. People are destitute, screaming for food. Then God through Elijah has the audacity to ask this widowed mother to give him just one meal. But you know — his challenging request is actually a service to her – because it gives her the opportunity to give to God in a real way and to really see what God will provide for her.

Friends — if you give to God in a real way you will really see what God can provide for you. Giving to God in a real way is when you put God first and trust him to supply what you need. Giving to God in a real way develops your trust in God and not in your money or in anything else in your life. . Giving to God in a real way develops your trust in God — who can supply for your needs. If you were to evaluate your giving – would you find it to be real – that it showed your trust in God – or would you find you were holding some back — not really trusting that God will supply for you if you were to truly give to Him? Wherever you find someone really giving to God, you’ll find that God comes through with His abundant provision.

How does Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 17 illustrate real giving?

First of all, as soon as Elijah announces to the King that God was sending a drought, God directs Elijah to go to the wilderness to hide, and promises to provide for Elijah through ravens who would bring him what he needed to live. I don’t know about you – but I think that two amazing things happen next.  First of all, I think it’s amazing that Elijah trusts and obeys God. Secondly, I think it’s amazing that God kept His promise and the ravens brought Elijah what he needed.

I think Elijah’s obedience is amazing. While a wilderness would be a great place for hiding,  it’s not a great place for surviving. Yet, Elijah obeyed. He went — immediately – without question — to this wilderness, and put himself in a situation where he would have to depend on God — because nobody else was going to provide for him there in the wilderness. God would have to keep His word and provide for him if he was going to survive.

The next amazing thing is that God did what God said He would do. God sent wild ravens every morning and every evening to feed Elijah with bread and meat.

Amazing. Elijah trusted and obeyed God, and God came through in abundance. Elijah gave of everything he had – gave his life as a response to God — and God provided for him. 

But that’s not the end of this story Elijah’s amazing trust in God and obedience to God – nor is it the end of God’s amazing provisions for Elijah. After Elijah obeys God and hides in the wilderness – after God provides for Elijah by sending ravens to bring him food — the brook that is providing Elijah with water dries up – so a new need arises. Elijah must have water – but how will he get it? Well, this time God comes through with even wilder instructions for Elijah to obey than when God sent him into the wilderness. This time God tells Elijah to leave this area by the brook and go across Israel to a Gentile area. Elijah is aware that this was an area of great danger, and he may have thought that going to this area was a crazy idea – crazy instructions from God. And the craziest part of it is that he’s supposed to go there and find one of the poorest people in the land — a widow — a single mother who’s already overstressed trying to feed her family. He’s supposed to look to her to feed him.

Maybe Elijah thought that this was a crazy idea — but guess what? Elijah does it. He immediately obeys.  Once again, he was willing to give more than what was in his wallet. Once again, he was willing to give his life.

Why was he willing to give so much?  I believe he was willing to give again because he had just had a personal encounter with God. God provided for him through ravens, and I believe that realizing how God had taken care of him in the past gave him the confidence to give himself to God again – to give all he had to God again – to trust God again – and to obey God again. 

If you’re going to be a real giver to God, if you are going to really give to God, if you are really going to trust God, you’ve got to become a lover of history. You’ve got to look at God’s past provision to others and to you – and know that God will continue to provide for you if you will trust God. I read about a minister whose secretary shared with him that her husband had just been hit with a bill for a car repair to the tune of $1,000.  They prayed that God would provide the money. A week later, she told him that they had received a $1,500 interest payment from a bank going back to 1989. Somehow, the bank had not sent this payment, and now, years later, God provided. The minister said that he prayed that they would remember God’s provision for years to come – that God’s provision would be in their memory bank to thumb through when they needed to remember it.

But — really giving to God – and trusting God to supply for your needs – can be frightening. Even if you remember what God has done for you in the past, how can you know that God will continue to do this? It can be scary to really give to God all you have – and to trust that God will provide for you. Think about the widow in the 1 Kings passage.  I think that—for her – the decision to really give to God – the decision to give more than what was in her wallet but give her life to God  and trust God to provide for her and her son  – had to be a frightening decision.  Maybe it had to come to her in a series of steps.

Maybe the first step toward her really giving to God and trusting God was belief. She must have believed in God long before she thought of giving her last meal to Elijah. In her first conversation with Elijah she reveals a faith in God. God had already won her heart before He asked her to give. Before real giving happens, God has got to win your heart. That’s where it started with this widow – and this is where it starts with you.

Once God won her heart, God began asking the widow to do things for Him, and the widow began doing what God asked. That may have been the second step toward her really giving to God and trusting God.  Maybe God began by asking for small things – and as her trust and willingness to do for God increases, God increases what He asks.

God will begin by asking you to do small things before He asks you to do larger things.  Elijah began with asking the widow to help him with a small need. “How about a drink?”  he asks. Now — water was scarce because of the drought, but it was more plentiful in her life than food – so Elijah starts with a lesser need, and instead of ignoring him, the widow immediately went to get him a drink of water.

Then came the third step in the widow’s journey toward really giving to God and really trusting God – and the third step is the greatest one. When she was on her way to get the water Elijah said: “Oh, by the way, could I have some bread, too?” I can almost hear her heels digging in, can’t you? She began to object. She didn’t object about a drink of water, but the second request is a big one – for as she tells Elijah – “I’m down to just a handful of barley flour, and a little oil. In fact, I’ve got just enough for one more meal for my son and myself, and then we’re done; we’ll die.”  At this point she finds that really giving to God and really trusting God with her life is more than she can do. She’s obviously  afraid – but in Elijah’s response, we understand the nature of real giving.  We understand what it means to really give and really trust God.  Elijah challenges her to , in spite of her fear, give to God first and watch God how God provides. He knows it’s a challenge for her, but he gives her the opportunity to give and he says to her: “Go and do what you were planning to do. Go and bake some bread, but bring some to me first. And then go make some for your family.” He encourages her toward real giving by reminding her of the promise of God — and the promise of God is “Your flour will not run out. Your oil will never run out the whole time of this drought. Others will struggle, but God will take care of you.”

Stewardship indeed must involve more than what’s in your wallet – it has to involve your life. It must involve trusting God with what God has given you, and trusting that God will provide for you when you give to God. 

Do you see what options this widow has? She can trust what she sees, hoard it, make a final meal for her family, then die — or she can do the courageous thing of trusting what she can’t see yet, believing the promise of God, giving her food away to God, and believing that God will yet provide in a miraculously abundant way. That’s her challenge – and with God’s strength she trusts God – and God provides.

If you’re going to really give and really trust God, it’s going to take a series of steps. It’s going to take remembering what God has done in the past, it’s going to take giving your heart to God, and it’s going to take giving to Him in smaller ways until you get to the point where you’ll give to Him first in a radical way, where you’re forced to depend on Him to provide for you. True stewardship is much more than what’s in your wallet –but it takes a process to get to the point where you can really give.

During World War II, Ernest Gordon was a prisoner – held by the Japanese along the Thailand border with several hundred others. He didn’t have any relationship with Christ until he was in what they called the death house where prisoners were sent to die. He felt that there was no hope for his life at that point. Well, some friends pulled him out of there, and he managed to recover. After recovering, he began to trust Christ and gave his whole heart to God. It was several months later that an old friend of his named Dodger, who was just months from dying, came to visit Ernie. Dodger felt his life was hopeless – and when he came to see Ernie he was very depressed. Ernie wanted to do what he could to encourage his friend. They talked a while, and as Dodger was getting ready to leave, Ernie felt as if he hadn’t yet really helped him. He remembered a novel he borrowed from another friend and asked if Dodger had anything to read. Before he gave the novel to him, he took the only Thai bills he had, a few but the only money he had, and stuck it in the pages of the novel and gave it to Dodger. Ernie gave courageously. He needed the extra nourishment that would come from those few dollars to live, but chose instead to put himself in a place of depending on God to meet his needs. That’s courageous giving. That’s really giving. That’s giving back to God  what God has given you and trusting that God will give you more. 

When you give courageously, it frees God to do amazing things in your life. That’s the kind of giving that makes it possible for God to provide for you in His own miraculous way. When you  give courageously, God can do amazing things. There was an amazing combination of what Elijah did and what the woman did in the 1 Kings passage – and through their joint faith and joint giving, God began to shine in their lives in a brand new, miraculous way.  

Remember what Elijah did. He was a servant who came to a destitute woman and challenged her to give in a courageous way. I’m sure that wasn’t easy for him to do, but he knew God would provide. He lead by calling her to give, knowing that God would come and provide and reveal Himself to her. Then the woman did something too. She courageously gave. She went off and baked and took the first bread to the man of God, believing that God would provide. And just look at the results — Elijah, the widow, and her family have food to eat every day. This is a great provision of God.  This unleashing of God’s power in the widow’s life didn’t come by her hoarding what she had — but by her giving it, and her trusting that God will provide for her. She gave in response to Elijah’s challenge, and God provided in abundant and miraculous ways.

Remember the story I told a few moments ago about Ernie and Dodger.? Well, here’s the rest of the story — after Ernie gave that book and money to Dodger, Dodger became a new man. He only had a few months to live — but he somehow found the energy to volunteer in their hospital, helping the orderlies. He volunteered for the dirtiest job in that whole place. Every day he went and collected the rags that the orderlies used to scrape off the skin ulcers of dying patients. He would  take these rags and scrape them, boil them, clean them, and take them back for use on other patients. He’d also find eggs for people who were starving and needing the extra nourishment. He’d also make a mess kit for somebody who had lost his. He’d also make a bucket for somebody who didn’t have a bucket to wash himself. Ernie gave in a courageous way, and it transformed Dodger into an amazing servant of God, and through Dodger, God provided help for so many others. Where did it begin? Just a small amount of money slipped in the book that Ernie gave to him.

Your giving of all God has given you – and trusting God to provide for you — unleashes the miraculous provisions of God, if you’re willing to trust God and use what He has given you.

So — are you really giving? Are you willing to give all you have – and trust God to provide for you? Are you willing to give of your money – your time – your abilities — to God for His work in the church – the community – and the world? Stewardship is about more than what’s in your wallet. It’s about your life – and your willingness to give what God has given you to get His work done.   

Now — the story of Elijah and the widow has tragedy in it also, but even  in the tragedy it  ends on a note of more giving and more faith. You know — even the most courageous givers are not exempt from tragedy, but their tragedies can be used by God to bless them and others. It was a few months later that this widow’s son died. She thought it was because of some sin in her life, but Elijah thought, this isn’t due to sin. Elijah viewed it as an opportunity for God’s glory to shine in that community even more than it already was. He took the boy up to his room and prayed in a most fervent way for God to restore him to life. And God, for the first time in the Old Testament record, brought somebody back to life.

Why do you think God did this?

The closing sentence of the chapter tells why. God did this miracle so that the widow’s faith could be deepened – and so she could tell others about God’s miraculous provision for her. She began by giving her water – then her flour and oil to God, and God provided. Then she gave her dead son to God, and God raises him back to life. She gave so much more that what was in her wallet – and God abundantly provided for her.

Stewardship is about  much more than what’s in your wallet – stewardship is about seeing what God has given you – your money, your time, your abilities – and giving all these things to God – trusting Him to provide for you as you give for His work.

In the New Testament passage for today from Luke 21, Jesus is watching people give to God as they drop coins in the treasury in the temple.  He sees some giving large amounts – probably making sure that others see what they are giving. He sees some people give a lot – and making a big show out of doing it – but He also sees a poor widow who gives just a little. Jesus points out that this widow was giving more than anyone else. How was that possible? It was possible because she was giving all she had to God – but for everyone else there was more stored away where what they were giving had come from. Others were giving a portion of what they had to God. She was giving it all.

Wow.  You think a tithe – 10% – is hard? Try giving 100%! Try giving to God all God has given you so that God can use all your money – all your time – all your talents – and trust that when you do this, God will abundantly provide for you! That’s stewardship. That’s living a life where God can use you and what He has given you, and living a life where God will bless you with more.

I heard of a man who, for his birthday, was offered by a friend of his who was a pilot the opportunity to go on an airplane ride. For about thirty minutes, they flew over their small town in West Virginia. When they landed, another friend asked the man celebrating his birthday: “Were you scared,?” With some hesitation he said, “Well, no, but I never put my full weight down.”

When you take all you have and offer it to God, you put your whole weight down on God.

So – the question you have to answer is – are you really giving? Stewardship involves much  more than what’s in your wallet – it involves entrusting all you have to God – so God can bless you and bless others through you.

Are you trusting God with all we have? When you do, God steps up and provides for you in miraculous ways.

Yea – there may be good news and bad news.  The church may have all the money it needs – but it may be in your wallets. But – there is more to stewardship than what’s in your wallet.  It’s got to be more than just giving your money – although that is certainly a part of it. Stewardship has got to involve your life – what you have – what God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, your stewardship of what God has given you is your response to God – you see what God has blessed you with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and you want to return a portion of it to God for His work in the church, the community and the world.  

As you consider what you can give for God’s work, I pray that you will honestly assess what God has given you. Honesty assess how much of your money, your time, and your talents you are giving to God – and how much you are keeping for yourself.  Then – strive to give more to God. Whether it be more of your money – or more of your time – or more of your talents – or more of all these things – strive to give God more of what He has given you in the first place. Learn to give God more – and trust that God will always provide more for you.  Really give to God – and He will really bless you. Trust God to provide for you  — and this week, this month, and for the rest of your life, take the steps you need to take toward really giving to God. Amen