God's Blessing & Your Response
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 28:10-11
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
Video for this Service can be viewed @ Sunday, July 24, 2022
The Apostle Paul reminded us of this in Acts 20:35…
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘
It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Have you discovered the joy of learning this amazing truth?!
This past week I stopped by the local Holiday Station store to get my daily free soda fill up (actually you pay $7.99 a month for that privilege). I filled up and was waiting in the checkout line while a disheveled looking man was digging in his pockets to find his wallet. Suddenly the lady directly behind him shouted to the cashier, “I’ll cover his costs!” I thought maybe they were together, but as I watched the interaction I realized this was their first time meeting. I listened as this man said, “you don’t have to do that.” She responded, “Hey, I’ve been in your shoes. I want to do this.” I watched as she headed out to her car with a smile on her face.
She was genuinely happy to give of her resources for the sake of another. What caught me about this interaction was that I had never even considered the possibility that I might have the opportunity to help someone out when I went in to get my soda. That moment has been a catalyst for a change in my own behavior that I’ll share with you on Sunday.
I’ve also found some great insights from the book by John Cortinas and Gregory Baumer called, “True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart”.
They have invited us to experience four transformations in our financial lives, moving from…
… pride to gratitude so that we see everything as a gift;
… coveting to contentment so that we spend wisely;
… anxiety to trust so that we save appropriately; and
… indifference to love so that we give extravagantly.
Jesus knew that how we think about money shapes our character. Our approach can make us more like him—full of contentment, purpose, and freedom—or it can cause a tragic separation from God and the joy he offers.
Are you experiencing the reality of how it is “more blessed to give than to receive?”
Looking forward to worshiping our Lord together with you this Sunday!
Grateful for you,
Pastor John
P.S. Thank you for all the prayers you have offered for my wife, Mary, and our family with the passing of her mom, Ruth Klanderman, on July 14th. It has meant a lot to us!