Doing Our Part in Obedience

Last week, Mitch Ward, presented to us our current financial situation, our budget for 2009, and some of the capital needs for the future. Mitch did a wonderful job with the presentation. Even though we are slightly in the red with our income vs. expenses, we still have all our obligations met. Thank you for stepping up your giving to help with the opportunity before us. In fact, I thank all of you for giving to our mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
However, I know our economy seems to be in a downturn and I realize that times are difficult. We seem to have less spending income in our pockets. I also know there are many obligations in our homes, with high utilities, registration fees for kid’s activities and sports, increasing food costs, car payments, mortgages, rent, and gasoline eating away at our household income. Unfortunately, some of us have even been laid off from work, and there is an immediate need for pulling the purse strings. It seems that we just can’t give as much as we would like because so much more is being spent for basic needs and wants. In fact, for some of us, our daily expenses have significantly reduced the leftover funds we intended for giving to others.
The words below are not for those who have their giving in order; God truly thanks those who follow His command on giving. It is interesting though, that many of us have our giving a bit backwards. God commands us to give our first fruits. Some of us have made poor choices financially or experienced a financial crisis that placed us in a situation of not being able to give as much as we would like or as God desires. Many times, out of fear or desperation, we end up giving our leftovers. But the fact is, we have a God who forgives us and calls us in faith to turn around from our disobedience and work each day toward giving our first fruits to God. Please listen to God’s promise in II Corinthians 9:6-15 (The Message):

Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a
lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and
make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob
stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for
anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As
one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.This most
generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is
more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away,
which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that
you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the
bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful
thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best,
showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of
the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings
to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved
by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in
passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his
gift. No language can praise it enough!

May we cheer and shout Hallelujah; may we be exuberant and blessed in our living and in our giving; may we be excited how God smiles on us as we meet the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world.
Doing our part in cheerful obedience, Pastor Jack