Give Generously and Joyfully

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

                                                                                                     2 Corinthians 8:1-7 NIV

Churches around the world are dying; particularly in North America and in Europe even while Christianity is spreading by leaps and bounds in many other countries. The question is why. During this month when we focus on stewardship, I cannot help but consider that it is because congregations that are growing may be growing because they are busy generously and joyfully reaching out to others with both the richness of the Gospel as well as helping to meet the physical needs of others in their communities. 

The early church grew by leaps and bounds and if we take a good look at that church they were not focused on themselves. They were focused on doing the mission that Jesus had left us with; going into all the world. A church that has turned inward and is only concerned about it's own needs is no longer a church of God. 

Imagine for a moment that the first followers of Jesus decided to worry only about their own well being; play it safe and stay within their little spaces or upper rooms. There would be no church today. Christianity would have died with the Apostles. Not a one of us would be saved. Not a one of us would be children of the Most High God!

St. Paul encourages the church to not only share the riches of the Good News of the Kingdom; but, to give generously out of love to advance that Kingdom. It is for the sake of the gospel that we give - that all people might know the love of God through Jesus Christ. Our mission is; after all, to proclaim the gospel to all people and that is not a small job. There have been times over the years when I've heard excuses for withholding offerings like "The church needs  a new (you name it) or we just don't have enough to give or until the council or the pastor gets their priorities straight, I'm not giving any more." The truth of the matter is that congregations do not exist to serve themselves. They exist to serve Jesus. They exist to reach out with the good news of his love for all people whether that is in word or deed. If they are hungry; whether it be, for spiritual or physical food; feed them. Just as Christ fed the multitudes with the word and with loaves and fish; he continues to feed them through the church; through you. Do not withhold your offerings because of self-serving thoughts that we ought to serve ourselves before our neighbor. Nothing that Jesus did was for love of Himself. All that He did was for the love of all people. His first followers selflessly gave of their time, what finances they had, the various gifts that God had given to them. They did not withhold anything; except for maybe Ananias and Sapphira who met with a very unhappy ending for withholding their offerings and lying about it (Acts 5:1-11)  If we expect the church to grow as it did in those first years maybe it would not hurt us to try to follow in The Way that they went.  

If Jesus was willing to give his all for us; if those first followers were willing to share all that they had so that the Kingdom of God could be advanced; why wouldn't we? May God help us to give joyfully and generously so that all might see the love of God in Christ Jesus through us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lying To God

Lies invite darkness to descend upon the soul;
even upon the world.

 

  Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

  When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

  “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

  Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

  At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 

                                                                                                                              (Acts 5:1-10)

I have been lied to and about so many times that there is no way that I could even count the times. We all have. Frankly, it makes me a bit weary. Sometimes, the lies are used to make someone look like someone they are not; like they are in the right and are doing good for others; while they are in truth, not.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira attempted to make themselves look righteous. They wanted to look as generous as the others who had sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for the good of all of the people. But, they withheld some. Their sin was not so much in keeping some for themselves. The sin was in attempting to lie to God the Holy Spirit. God knows everything we say and think and do. It is just a bad idea to try telling God lies. The humans that we might tell lies to; usually know that we are not telling the whole truth, as well. We may not be able to prove the lies; but, God knows the truth. Lying to God, to others, and to ourselves can be very detrimental to our lives, to our futures.

The rest of the story for Ananias and Sapphira was that when they lied to Peter and to God, they died. They died immediately. When we lie to protect ourselves and our own egos; a bit of us dies inside, as well. When we tell untruths we are not who we were or who we can be in Christ Jesus. Make every effort then to speak and live in the truth with integrity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

They Fell Down Dead

  
  Now a man names Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

  When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

  “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

  Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

  At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.    (Acts 5:1-10 NIV)

Lately, I have heard the phrase "My word is my bond" a lot. I wish that were true. I have been lied to and about so many times that there is no way that I can even begin to count the times. Frankly, it makes me a bit weary. Sometimes, the lies are used to make someone look like someone they are not; like they are in the right and are doing good for others; while they, in truth, are not. They are only trying to lift themselves up. Often I am able to tell if someone is lying to me is if they are glorifying themselves and the works of their own hands rather than glorifying God. No one is as good as they would suggest.     

Ananias and his wife Sapphira attempted to glorify themselves unjustly. They attempted to make themselves look righteous. They wanted to look as generous as the others who had sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for the good of all of the people. But, they had withheld some. Their sin was not just in keeping some for themselves. Their sin was in attempting to lie to God the Holy Spirit. God knows everything we say and think and do. It is just a bad idea to try lying to God. The humans that we might tell lies to; usually know that we are not telling the whole truth; but, not always. But, God always knows the truth.

The rest of the story for Ananias and Sapphira was that when they lied to Peter and to God, they died. They died immediately. When we lie to protect ourselves and our own egos; to make ourselves look more righteous than others, a bit of us dies inside, as well. When we cause harm to others and to the church with our lies, we may or may not get away with it here on earth. But, God knows what we have done and those who speak without integrity will answer to Him.  

May God help us to speak with integrity at all times that His Name might be glorified.

God's Peace - Pr. J