Word for Word 8/23/17

For our most recent church newsletter, I wrote on the subject of ‘supporting the ministry of the church through the giving of money, time, and talents.’ It’s a common topic, talking about stewardship. And it’s a broader topic than church giving. It should affect our entire lives.

As I thought about what to write for this space, I came across an article reminding me of a way we are called by God, right now, to give of ourselves. There is presently a massive humanitarian crisis in Africa. A staggering 20 million people are threatened with starvation. Children, men, women - our sisters and brothers are facing this threat.

For those who follow God, we give of ourselves because we are responding to the glory of God and all that God has given to us. The very air that fills our lungs, the food that nourishes us every day, water that renews us, all this is from God. Our Lord has liberated our hearts, set us free from death into life. We have seen God show up in our lives in ways that are astonishing and in ways that are subtle.

What can our response be except to offer back to God what we have been blessed with? To offer it all back with thankfulness, and so that others may experience blessing as well.

We know that we do not ‘deserve’ every good thing we’ve been given, and so we are generous and free in our giving for others. We give back so that we can participate in God’s love and blessing towards others. We know and believe that what we have has been provided by God, so we are called not to cling to it and hoard it, but to share it for the good of God’s world and the good of people everywhere. Our time, our talents, our money, our very lives are truly gracious gifts from God. So we are called to respond by abundantly offering and sharing those same gifts.

So I would urge you to give. Give of your money. You can go to www.globalemergencyresponse.org to learn more about the current humanitarian crisis, and to donate. Give of your time and energy, by encouraging your representatives in government to continue to offer aid out of the abundance that our nation possesses.

As those who follow after Christ, as those who have been blessed with so much, we are called to offer back to God generously of our time, our money, our gifts and our energies. Let us look for ways to give, for the glory of God and for the love of our brothers and sisters all over the world.

In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Tim Rupert
Zalmona and Rossville
Presbyterian Churches