Stewardship devotion: Excelling in Giving - 2 Corinthians 8:7

Today’s readings: Judges 9:7-21 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-12

2 Corinthians 8:7       But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

We've just completed a new stewardship campaign at our church called Consecration Sunday. A lot of hours, effort, and focus were put in by members of the Stewardship Team, along with prayers and presentations. It was a very upbeat method of helping the members of the congregation to think about not just what they give, but also how and why they give. I think most of the good folks bought into the aspect of honoring God with their financial commitment. There were no guilt trips or undue pressure put upon the people, so we’ll find out if this approach has worked in the weeks to come.

Most pastors, like myself, worry about giving, especially in uncertain economic times. Added to the burden is the sad fact that folks are beginning to adopt a laissez-faire attitude to church all across society. People say that they are spiritual and thankful to God, but it sometimes does not manifest itself into regular worship and giving. Taking God for granted has always been a part of the human condition; these days it appears as though more people are majoring in self and minoring in God, forgetting that we live as creatures in His Creation.

Giving money, giving our time, and giving our hearts to God shows others that our faith is actually real. Being a Christian is the hardest faith on the planet because it requires commitment, devotion, and loyalty to Christ above everything else. As human beings, we all have skills, pursuits, activities, and gifts that we excel in; the tough question that we should be asking ourselves this morning is this: do we also excel in giving?

Questions for personal reflection

What do I give to Christ through the church? Am I excelling in giving?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the greatest gift in the history of the world. For our sake, You left the riches of Heaven and became part of a poor refugee family on Earth. For our sake, You gave everything that You had, including Your precious life, on the Cross at Calvary. Without Your gift, we would be cut off from God forever. By Your blood, Your Church was established to continue Your mission on Earth. Challenge us today, so that we may cheerfully, faithfully, and exceedingly give to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make a comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Nativity images called “Bethlehem Lullaby.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/10916628304_9c9bf3f08f_b.jpg

Christian devotion: The Way - Acts 24:14a

Acts 24:14a     However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. 

It wasn’t called ‘Christianity’ in Paul’s time; faith in Christ was called “The Way.” Over the centuries, we have institutionalized and religion-ized something sacred that was meant to be the pathway to Heaven and the manner in which we live our lives on Earth. We’ve turned it into something legalistic and unloving, stratified and staid, instead of attractive, amiable, and amenable to everyone.

For most of my life, I’ve been a Presbyterian pastor and sometimes I wonder if I’ve truly followed the Way, or if I have been led astray by my own ambition, opinion, and understanding. In recent years, I’ve sought to walk a different path and steer a steadier course towards Jesus. It’s not been easy, because change has always been challenging to me. And sometimes, the closer I seem to get to Christ, the more I allow distractions to get in the way.

This morning I was writing this week’s Summer Sunday School lesson and Christ’s words about being totally committed to Him just stung me. Jesus expects His followers like me to be focused upon following Him; He leads the way to The Way – my work is to find His footsteps and pursue Him. The trouble I have with it is this: I like being distracted and so some days, I end up in a maze of my own making, instead of being on the pathway of the Path Maker.

            Today is another day on this journey from Earth to Heaven. Hopefully, we are all seeking The Way through His truth, to the glory of His Life.

Questions for personal reflection

Where am I today? On Christ’s path that leads to Life, or on some distracted dead end?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, show us the path that You would have us take today. Be the Way that we follow, as well as the Way that we live. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm drawings. It represents a verse in Psalm 37. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3357/3283895612_313bf65d2a_b.jpg

Short devotions: Church Weary - Isaiah 16:12

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 16:6-13 and Matthew 6:16-24

Isaiah 16:12 When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.

One of the saddest events that I’ve sometimes seen over 25 years of being a pastor occurs when people give up on church. It happens in every congregation, in every community, and in every country across the world. People leave the community of faith because they are sometimes spiritually weary and burned out.

They leave for different reasons; sometimes it’s because the pastor hasn’t visited them enough or has said or done something which displeased them. Sometimes they leave because they’ve been asked to do too much or more is expected of them than they want to give. Sometimes they just drift away because life takes them on a different journey. And sometimes they leave because their faith is shallow, so they don’t have any real and substantial roots to keep them in church. Just like Moab of old, their faith is futile and their prayers are left unanswered.

Every institution goes through this sifting out of members; even Jesus faced this in His ministry. If you don’t believe me, then please read John 6:60-68 – at that time, many walked away from Christ, never to return.

I sometimes wonder what happens inside of people who have left the church when they are faced with a terminal illness, sudden disaster, or even death itself. Do they regret what they have done and seek forgiveness, or do they justify their staying away from church and hope that Christ will be merciful? This puzzles me and I guess I will never know the answer.

However, this I do know: Christ’s ministry and mission on Earth can only be accomplished by those who remain faithful and who work through the church. To be part of His work is the most important thing we can do with our lives. To support His mission through what we give of our time, talents, and money is a true act of persistent faith. Those who remain in the church, in whatever community or wherever on the planet, will experience a two-fold blessing: the knowledge that they are making a difference in the world through Christ and of knowing that they are pleasing Him too.

Prayer:           Lord Jesus, You ask us not only to be followers, but also to be servants, messengers, and disciples. This takes commitment and perseverance, constancy and faithfulness. Sometimes we get weary of the burdens and obligations that our churches place upon us. Help us to see that these responsibilities and duties are necessary to maintain Your ministry and to sustain Your mission in the world. In Your Holy Name we seek Your favor and humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org

Today’s image is one of John’s stained glass designs. It’s called ‘Lenten Prayer.’ If you would like to see a larger version of this drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3315772938_83ceb0c3f4_b.jpg

Erin Church Devotions: Keeping It All for God

Do we have to share everything with others? Aren't there some things we should keep for ourselves and God?

Podcast version here

Matthew 25:9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

It’s strange, but you would think that in this situation, the girls with oil in their lamps would share it with the others. After all, it’s a Christian story, and isn’t Christianity all about sharing our resources with other people? Jesus usually criticized selfish people and urged his followers to give what they could to the needy. So why doesn’t He end this story with: ‘and the five selfish maids were not invited to the bridegroom’s party for not sharing their oil.’ After all, that’s the way the world would end it, right?

This means, as usual, that there must be something deeper going on. The parable is not about sharing, it’s about being prepared and showing respect. The five clever maidens were ready for any inconvenience. They wanted to make sure that they could honor and escort the bridegroom when he eventually arrived. They weren’t thinking about themselves. They were concentrating on what the groom needed to make his wedding party a great success. The five wise girls had already committed their resources to him; if they shared their precious oil with the foolish maidens, then the bridegroom would have been dishonored by all. By keeping the oil to themselves, they were at least ensuring that fifty percent of the bridal party would properly honor the groom.

I guess we all feel sorry for the five foolish maidens because we identify so readily with them. Most of us are last minute shoppers at Christmas and get by each day by doing just enough. It always amazes me on Sunday mornings when a lot of people arrive just a couple of minutes before the worship is due to start. One minute the sanctuary looks half empty; the very next it is three quarters full.

The point Jesus was making with this story is something that we all should seriously consider: leaving our faith commitment to the last minute may be fatal to our souls. Our lives are meant to be used for enjoying God and worshiping His Son. If we take them for granted, then we may unexpectedly run out of time one day, with no earthly chance of making things right with God.

That’s why making and taking time to read the Bible, reading or listening to these devotions, and to ponder about what God is telling us is so important. We can get sidetracked too easily. We can leave holy things to the last minute much too often, that we unintentionally end up disregarding, dishonoring, and disrespecting God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are often too busy for our own good and end up sapping our resources and energy on things that are unimportant, trivial, and meaningless. Help us to reset our ways and enable us to honor You with our love, devotion, and faith. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.