Planning
Now For 2004!
Can You Tell Myth From Truth About Christian
Generosity? Take A Quiz!
I hope you had a great summer. I sure did! A little travel, a little family fun, a few chores around the house, but now kids are back in school and we’re moving into the busy fall season and back to the school year routines.
Summertime can be a challenging time for church finances and stewardship. Attendance naturally drops a bit over the summer months so I want to offer some encouragement today as you renew your faithfulness in worship and generosity in these last few months of the year.
I haven’t seen the report of our offerings for the summer months yet. Before you get a look at where we stand, let’s think first about why we give. In November we’ll review the year during stewardship month and make plans and commitments for 2004. But in September, let’s simply refresh ourselves with God’s intentions for our giving in support of his kingdom’s work!
Generosity, as you well know, is more a matter of the heart than it is a matter of the checkbook. I read results of a survey recently that indicated that many Christians hold views about stewardship and giving that are not biblically based. Take a look at the following and see if you can identify which, in these pairs of statements, is myth and which is truth.
Myth or Truth: “It’s about dollars” or “It’s about faith” The truth is, it’s about faith, not dollars, isn’t it? It’s so interesting to me that Jesus told so many parables about money and possessions, (it’s the number one topic in his parables), when he himself had no money! Why did he teach about it so much? If you read his words closely you’ll see that what Jesus is getting at is what’s going on in the hearts of people. What do they love most? Who do they trust? What’s the difference between what is really treasured and what is just not important? These are the issues Jesus addressed when he talked about money.
God wants your heart and the heart of our congregation. Our response to the needs of others as displayed in our first-fruits, generous, sacrificial giving is simply an indicator of faith and love!
Myth or Truth: “God will Provide” or “God has provided” the first is a pretty pious and faithful sounding phrase, but the truth is, God has already provided all we need to do the work he’s given us to do, hasn’t he? When it was time to build the temple in Jerusalem, King David and the people found that the gold and silver required was right in their own pockets, and what a temple the built! (Read about the offering in 1 Chronicles 29.) Paul gathered an offering for the persecuted Christians in Jerusalem by asking the churches around the world and they found they had plenty to share.
God doesn’t usually send miraculous gifts from the sky, but asks his people to give. Even when Jesus told Peter to get a tax payment coin from a fish’s mouth, Peter went fishing first! Our Father is not waiting around until there is work to do to open the floodgates of heaven. He has placed all that’s needed into our care! What are we waiting for?
Myth or Truth: “I give to God” or “God gives to me” This truth is really the foundation of our stewardship heart. As the old hymns says, “We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee” (TLH 441). God is the Giver, we are the recipients of his every grace, physical and spiritual. He only invites us to be rivers of his goodness, not reservoirs!
Myth or Truth: “I have to” or “I love to” What does God love? A cheerful giver. Where does the cheer come from? From the last truth, from knowing by faith, and from believing in the core of our being, that everything we are and have is a gift from God. If generosity is a drudgery, it’s a problem rooted in what we believe about God, not what we believe about money.
I love the story of the little boy who told his day, “Hey! Those are my french fries!” ignoring the fact that the father had the capacity to bury his son in fries if he so desired! When we recognize that the source of our possessions is God, we love to share.
Myth or Truth: “Spend less” or “Do more” Every congregational expenditure should be examined to be sure that it is mission oriented, God pleasing, and thrifty. We should give constant vigilance to be sure that the offerings received are used in the best possible fashion.
But what drives our congregational stewardship is the desire to do more to share the saving love of Christ in our neighborhood, our area and around the world through our mission offerings. The truth is, faith calls us always to ask, “What more is God calling us to do to reach the lost with the news of Christ’s love?” and never to try to “balance the budget” by reducing our efforts.
Here’s my suggestion. In November we’ll decide on our spending plan for 2004. Now is the time for you to offer your input in two ways. First, speak to a member of your Board of Directors or to a staff person about your dreams for our church’s ministry in days ahead. What expansion of extraordinary service to you see on our horizon? Your Board members are Jim Tells, Darryl Stroup, Ellen Hageman, Charles Umphenour, Carl Horstman, Laura Murphy, Nancy O’Neal, Kay Storck and Chris Thomson.
Second, remember that the hard task of setting our expenses for next year will be based on our offerings for this year. These next few months are the best time for us to show that we’re all committed to generous giving as God has given to us. Please join me in prayer, committing our stewardship life to the Lord.
A Special Appeal
Our Christ Community Lutheran School budget is funded primarily from congregational offerings. We send about $4000 per student to the school. You probably know that this does not cover the whole cost of education Our school board annually approves a budget that is largely dependent on other fund raising activities throughout the year, accounting for well over $100,000 of the cost of operating our school. Typically, these fund raisers fall to the children, who diligently do their best selling wrapping paper and pizzas and candy and the rest of the items you hear about.
This year we’re trying to do most all of our extra fund raising through the CCLS Legacy Kids Classic Golf Outing in early October . If you should hear from me or another CCLS supporter about sponsoring our golfing or walking the course that day, I hope you will offer your generous support so that quality Christian elementary education will continue to be a cornerstone of our ministry! Watch for a note in the mail, or contact the church office for a pledge form.
What do you think about divine intervention for that million dollar hole in one shot?