Pastor Steve Berger got my attention this past Sunday when he talked about sacrificial giving. Pastor Steve, the Senior Pastor at my church, Grace Chapel in Leipers Fork, TN, (http://gracechapel.net) just completed a four-week series, Reverse the Curse, on how to handle the resources that God has entrusted to our stewardship. The first two weeks were about tithing (giving ten percent of gross income), the third week was about offerings (the people or missions we support above our tithe), and the final week was about sacrificial giving. It was the final week that really caught got my attention.
Seems like many people think of their tithe (or several percentage points below 10%) as a begrudging sacrifice rather than an offering. In Mark 12:41, Jesus watched as many with great wealth gave great gifts; fitting gifts for their level of net-worth. But He was more impressed when He observed a poor widow giving up two small coins; a complete and total sacrifice. She gave up all she had, as an offering of complete trust in God’s abundant promise to always provide for us. The difference? Some gave generously; she gave all she had.
Money was used to illustrate the lesson, but what about my other gifts? Am I giving generously or sacrificially?
For example, what about my time? Can I make time for a stranger I know is in need of a favor or spend time with someone who feels like the end of their rope is near?
Am I sacrificially giving my money and myself to and for others? Too many times the answer has been “No”, but tomorrow can be different.
We are in the middle of Holy Week and my prayer for all of us is that we’ll not only use money to further God’s kingdom, but we’ll sacrificially give our other gifts that God has so graciously given us for our short time on earth.
Blessings,
Paul
