All Christians admit that we worship one God, Three Persons of the Trinity, Father, Spirit Son, who has been and continues to be active in the salvation of God’s children (obvious). We give thanks in gratitude for what Jesus has done on the cross for us, we celebrate victory over death in Jesus’ name, and we endeavor to follow Jesus’ teachings in Bible, as he bids us commands. Sundays we sing songs, we pray prayers, we read and expound upon the scriptures (well, it’s my role to do most of the expounding.) But we often overlook a small yet mighty piece.
This month of October we will be talking about Giving on Sunday morning. The Stewardship Commission will be asking our church members to submit an estimate of giving for 2025 so that we can better plan for our ministry goals. Talking about money can be awkward, but in the church, giving money is really the unsung hero of worship.
Giving to the church may seem like giving to other charities, right? While it may look the same on the surface, it’s actually quite different. When people give to universities, hospitals, and other non-profits, it is because they believe in the mission or leadership of those groups. You loved your college experience so you hope that others might be similarly helped. You have a family member with a particular disease so you fund research to help find a cure. All noble causes, and personally meaningful for church giving too.
Now consider this, giving money to the church is not just about that, there is a deeper, more important reason we give. Our giving is commanded as part of our worship! Throughout the scriptures, God’s people honor God with word, deed, and offerings. These offerings range from a few cents to 10% of their gross income, and some cases God demands even more. Bringing offerings to God is recorded again and again as a hallmark of faith, and abundant generosity is close to godliness.
Unlike other non-profits, the church is not just asking for funding, it is God asking for your worship. The extent of our faith is indicative by our giving. Research studies continue to prove generous people are happier and live longer. It’s hard to explain this on a scientific level; but, it’s easy to explain on a faith level: our hearts were built to GIVE! The human spirit is nourished by God when we give from our heart.
This month, don’t give from your pocketbook, Give from Your Heart. It is cliché to say “God loves a cheerful giver” or, “if you want more peace in your life, more hope, or more love,” try giving more. But the reality is they are true. God, the Greatest Giver, loves to give to us, and you celebrate and worship when you Give From Your Heart. Pastor Karl
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