Pastor's Monthly Message
September 2020
OFFERING: A Soul Crushing Experience
A family, tired of being approached to give to so many charitable causes, decided not to give to any of them. They were not going to join with others in assisting victims of hurricanes, fighting poverty, buying nets for malaria or medicine for neo-natal tetanus.
This became one of their greatest learning experiences.
By not giving money for any cause they began to feel that they were not living as “a part of the greater good.” By not giving to their church or to other worthy operations such as VIM, the American Red Cross, and The Heifer Project, they felt miserly and began to separate from their church and God. Soon they were not having meaningful fellowship with people who were striving to spread the Gospel, they even noticed their anger and frustration was rubbing off on their friends. They noticed their prayer time began to fade and an overall funk had begun to take hold in their home.
At a family meeting the Father shared his feelings of guilt and emptiness as he looked at the world around them knowing they could help but feeling helpless to do so. The Mother admitted without giving she felt isolated and ashamed. One of the children said I miss putting quarters in the tube. The other child was upset because one of his friends couldn’t afford a uniform for Scouts.
By the end of the meeting the family had gone from feeling helpless, to filled with great joy as they each reinstated their offering and planned an entire year of blessing to offer their church and others. I believe every part of life affects our soul, especially how we share. John Wesley asked, “How is it with your soul?”
In this Conference season of our Church, May God bless us as we hold our family meetings and decide how we will be in mission to each other and to the world through the gifts that we share.. and may our souls be uplifted and filled with joy!
Sowing the Seeds of Faith,
Pastor Corby