“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for
yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal
dwellings” (Luke
16:9).
Dearly beloved,
I first put money in the church offering plate at the
ripe old age of twelve. It was all the money I had earned from yard mowing that
summer. From the moment the deacon lifted the plate from the table, it had my
complete attention. Everything else around me faded and when the plate arrived
in my hands, freely I surrendered all the money I had in the world. If anyone
noticed or if any comments were made about the giving, I don’t remember; the
plate knew, as did I, as did the Father, and that’s all that mattered. The
feelings I had after a few days passed, however, is what I really want to share
with you.
It
wasn’t long (the next day) until I was wishing I hadn’t put all my money
in the offering plate. There were a few things at the dime store I’d liked to
have had; almost everything I saw I thought I needed! Walking out of the store
upset, I promised myself I would never surrender all of my money in the church plate
again!
Every
possible thing that could tempt me and challenge me that week did. My friends
were buying the best baseball cards to ever hit the planet, my sister had a
birthday, a pinball machine, a new pool table, and foosball tables were all
purchased at the downtown restaurant and all I could do was sit back and watch people play on them! I didn’t have
a dime! All that hard work I did for my money was thrown in the offering plate
at church!!
As I
was crying late Saturday evening in bed the image of the offering plate came to
mind. I knew I would be seeing it in the morning, and it was the only thing I
could see or think about. It was then that a voice in my mind gently spoke
similar words Jesus spoke to those surrounding Him, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain
friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into
eternal dwellings.”
I
thanked Jesus that night for rescuing me and for keeping Satan from robbing me of
my giving. I thanked him for showing me how easily one can be tempted, like the
“unfaithful servant,” to waste money foolishly.
I
share this with you to encourage you as you give to others for the sake of Christ.
Don’t let Satan rob you of your offering to God. Don’t let the world convince
you that it knows better than God how to manage your worldly wealth. Do not allow
this wealth be your master, rather, use the wealth God loans you to
serve others! Put Satan’s deceptions and temptations aside and do not let
anyone or anything come between you and your spiritual desire to give to others
for the sake of unity and eternal fellowship. Let your giving say “thanks” to Jesus
for the glorious purchase of our salvation!
Blessings,
Pastor, Jim
