Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash
Dear Easter People,
“ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN! …”
Fruits, vegetables, and greens are a major part of a good diet. We’re thankful for farmers who grow it for us. What we might not think about where the seeds that turn into produce come from. Some farmers actually produce their own seeds. They’ll sow extra seeds to ensure they have enough to grow new produce to sell … while still having enough to produce new seeds for next year’s crop.
This image comes to mind as we hear God’s Word in 2nd Corinthians. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2nd Corinthians 9:6) Paul uses agricultural imagery to make a greater point about using the gifts of time, talent, and treasure He’s given His creatures, including us.
In 2nd Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul addresses the Corinthian church in one of the first stewardship drives. Paul’s been appealing to churches around the Mediterranean to help fellow Christians, living in poverty and oppression, in Jerusalem. Some of these churches are very wealthy. Others are quite poor. Whether wealthy or poor, Paul reminds them their gifts are to be used “according to their means” (2nd Corinthians 9:3), not only on themselves, but also “… for the ministry of this service … supplying the needs of (fellow Christians) … also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” (2nd Corinthians 9:12) The gifts definitely help people with physical needs, but, more importantly, they’re signs of faithful worship of God. They’re a sign of thanks for past and present provision, as well as, trust in His future provision.
God still continues faithfully providing for our needs. He’s the source of all we have, not because we deserve it, but because He loves and cares for us. And we can trust His continued provision … whether through our hands or the hands of others. But He also provides so we can, in proportion to what He provides, give to others in need. Some receive more, some less … but all receive something. And God calls us to follow Him in faith by sacrificing a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He’s given us toward His mission to provide for and redeem all mankind.
Our Follow Him in Faith campaign continues with Celebration Sunday, next Sunday, May 19th where we’ll have an opportunity to worship and give thanks to God by sacrificially committing, over a 3-year period, over-and-above our regular giving to support the growth of His mission and ministry at First Lutheran.
Paul reminds us, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2nd Corinthians 9:7) Therefore, please pray … ask God to help you discern how you might commit to giving sacrificially and cheerfully. Then act … bring your Commitment Card to worship on May 19th as a sign of worship and trust in God’s future provision. God promises “to make all grace abound in you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2nd Corinthians 9:8) Through us, God’s harvest will be abundant … it will be overflowing!
“… HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!”
In the Love of our Risen Savior,
Pastor Jim