I hate money. While I enjoy the pleasures that come from what money can buy (as my indulgences in coffee, dining out, and computers will testify), there ?s just too much effort that must go into making money, tracking money, and even spending money. I know that there ?s more than a bit of laziness in my attitude: it ?s difficult to figure out money, so I just try to avoid it.
The hard reality is that money is a necessary tool that we must use wisely or it can hurt us. Another hard reality, specifically here at Memorial, is that while there are a few areas where we could cut back more in our spending, we ?re at a point where the effort to save our nickels and dimes is becoming counterproductive. To put it bluntly, the bigger problem we are facing is that we are not giving in such a way that would indicate we are a healthy body.
Without trying to launch a guilt trip or to call attention to anyone ?s financial stability, let ?s consider together, as a body, how we can get connected by giving. First, we get connected to God through giving because it recognizes that everything we have comes from God (James 1:17). Second, we get connected to each other through giving because we develop the attitude that the first church had; Acts 4:32 says that ?All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ?
It ?s no secret that our region, and by extension our families and our church family, is facing tough times. And it ?s easy to go into ?cutback mode, ? but let ?s not lose sight of the eternal significance of even our monthly bills. Because we are connected as one body, because we must be ?one in heart and mind, ? we share the responsibility of supporting the body by giving our money. It may be more difficult for some of us than others, but let ?s take Paul ?s advice in 1 Timothy 6:17 and not put our hope in money, which is uncertain, but put our hope in God ?who richly provides us with everything. ?
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I have to confess that I was caught and corrected by the Holy Spirit when I tried to use my short comings to escape true giving. I used to think how nice it would be if I had “assets” that I could give. Poor me, I’m too poor to help anyone. Same thing with time, I was publishing in my mind that I’m too busy. I could have done a lot of things with the time I spent telling myself that I had not time. Then one day, the Holy Spirit revealed to me I can’t give out because I never gave in. I have heard it said that “all roads lead to Jesus,” but I submit to you that “Jesus leads to all roads.” As soon as I surrendered myself to Him and His perfect and pleasing will, I found myself able to do things that I never conceived I would do. I started trying to serve the Lord backwards, working my way to Him when I should have started at Him and worked my way outwards. Praise God! I’m glad He knows what to do! Have you ever noticed that the word “LOVE” has a circle in it? Some people think it’s the letter “O”, but it looks like a circle to me. I also noticed that a square is just a circle with rough edges that need to be smoothed over, much like the rancid sinner that I am. I love you Jesus.