Church -
Some of us are still celebrating Thanksgiving throughout the weekend… we’re spending time with family and friends; we’re eating far too much; we’re laying around a good amount; some may have gone shopping and it’s possible that some of you were in those videos of “Black Friday” that I saw online - you were beating people up and cussing them out to save money on a new tv. Yeah, I saw you. You know you can’t hide that stuff. :-)
Anyway, the day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday.” The day after that is called “Small Business Saturday,” where we’re encouraged to support our local businesses by purchasing locally to encourage the local economic growth. The following Monday is called “Cyber Monday” and we’re encouraged to keep spending more money for gifts, but to buy the gifts online to support our online communities.
And then…
Some of us are still celebrating Thanksgiving throughout the weekend… we’re spending time with family and friends; we’re eating far too much; we’re laying around a good amount; some may have gone shopping and it’s possible that some of you were in those videos of “Black Friday” that I saw online - you were beating people up and cussing them out to save money on a new tv. Yeah, I saw you. You know you can’t hide that stuff. :-)
Anyway, the day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday.” The day after that is called “Small Business Saturday,” where we’re encouraged to support our local businesses by purchasing locally to encourage the local economic growth. The following Monday is called “Cyber Monday” and we’re encouraged to keep spending more money for gifts, but to buy the gifts online to support our online communities.
And then…
Once all your money has been spent, people decided “hey, since we’ve spent all our money on us, we should probably have a day to actually help the non-profit organizations and churches…” So, at the tail-end of all your spending, if there’s anything left, you’re encouraged to participate in #GivingTuesday to give to local charity organizations and churches.
Let me say this, Church - our giving has been down over the last few months. Some weeks it’s been WAY down. Now’s the time to make up for our budgets and get your tax write-off’s in before the end of the year. It is my responsibility to be teaching you about the discipline of giving… it’s a hard one to learn, and it’s a hard one to teach, but it’s necessary. It’s not necessary for God to have your money, but it IS necessary for us to learn to be generous with our time, our talents (skills and passions), and our treasures (our finances).
Why is it necessary for us to learn to give to God’s work?
1. His work is eternal in nature. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3 that our work and our world that we build on wood, hay, and stubble will be tested by fire in the final days, and we’ll be judged for what’s left. For those unaware, wood, hay, and stubble doesn’t last long in a fire. All those gifts you’re buying for Christmas probably won’t be around by this time next year. Batteries die, clothes shrink (or our waist-line grows), and other things break or corrode. Does that mean we shouldn’t buy gifts? Absolutely not… gift-giving is a wonderful thing to do for others to express our love and appreciation for them… but don’t forget our love and appreciation for Him Who gave His ALL for us. And the ONLY thing He wants from us is to lead others to Him, and to invest in THAT work!!
2. His work is necessary in society. Unless you live under a rock, you can watch the news and see that our society and culture is headed in the wrong direction, and some would argue the Church is losing it’s impact and relevance in today’s world. That’s the lie the enemy wants everyone believing… As many in church go on sitting in their seats and listening on Sundays, many aren’t taking that out into the world and making the POSITIVE IMPACT in the communities in which we reside and work. We keep it to ourselves, and if we’re unwilling to say or do much, then we need to be giving to those who ARE willing to use it for expanding God’s Kingdom by preaching God’s Word in a relevant way for God’s Glory and the good of others. We need churches willing to lovingly accept everyone where they are and lead them to the One who can heal them from the inside out.
3. His work is a timeless and timely. The Word is clear that TODAY is the day of salvation, and that there is NO difference between the Jew and the Gentile, and that ALL should come to repentance. That means we have to be innovative in our methods while delivering a timeless Message!!
The bottom line is this - if we have $1.00, we can do $1.00’s worth of ministry. However, if we have $1,000,000.00, then we can do $1,000,000.00’s worth of ministry!! Let’s REACH DEEP in our pockets so we can REACH OUT to the lost!!!
So, starting this Sunday, and especially on #GivingTuesday, let’s DO THIS!! TOGETHER!!!
I’m ALL IN. How about you??
Let me say this, Church - our giving has been down over the last few months. Some weeks it’s been WAY down. Now’s the time to make up for our budgets and get your tax write-off’s in before the end of the year. It is my responsibility to be teaching you about the discipline of giving… it’s a hard one to learn, and it’s a hard one to teach, but it’s necessary. It’s not necessary for God to have your money, but it IS necessary for us to learn to be generous with our time, our talents (skills and passions), and our treasures (our finances).
Why is it necessary for us to learn to give to God’s work?
1. His work is eternal in nature. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3 that our work and our world that we build on wood, hay, and stubble will be tested by fire in the final days, and we’ll be judged for what’s left. For those unaware, wood, hay, and stubble doesn’t last long in a fire. All those gifts you’re buying for Christmas probably won’t be around by this time next year. Batteries die, clothes shrink (or our waist-line grows), and other things break or corrode. Does that mean we shouldn’t buy gifts? Absolutely not… gift-giving is a wonderful thing to do for others to express our love and appreciation for them… but don’t forget our love and appreciation for Him Who gave His ALL for us. And the ONLY thing He wants from us is to lead others to Him, and to invest in THAT work!!
2. His work is necessary in society. Unless you live under a rock, you can watch the news and see that our society and culture is headed in the wrong direction, and some would argue the Church is losing it’s impact and relevance in today’s world. That’s the lie the enemy wants everyone believing… As many in church go on sitting in their seats and listening on Sundays, many aren’t taking that out into the world and making the POSITIVE IMPACT in the communities in which we reside and work. We keep it to ourselves, and if we’re unwilling to say or do much, then we need to be giving to those who ARE willing to use it for expanding God’s Kingdom by preaching God’s Word in a relevant way for God’s Glory and the good of others. We need churches willing to lovingly accept everyone where they are and lead them to the One who can heal them from the inside out.
3. His work is a timeless and timely. The Word is clear that TODAY is the day of salvation, and that there is NO difference between the Jew and the Gentile, and that ALL should come to repentance. That means we have to be innovative in our methods while delivering a timeless Message!!
The bottom line is this - if we have $1.00, we can do $1.00’s worth of ministry. However, if we have $1,000,000.00, then we can do $1,000,000.00’s worth of ministry!! Let’s REACH DEEP in our pockets so we can REACH OUT to the lost!!!
So, starting this Sunday, and especially on #GivingTuesday, let’s DO THIS!! TOGETHER!!!
I’m ALL IN. How about you??
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