March 7, 2023 — “Give Proportionately”

“If the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has – not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:12

To give in a proportional manner is our way of giving in relation to our abundance. We are to give according to our “means,” focusing not on a specific amount, but on what proportion that amount represents of our income or budget.

“We ask the Lord to give us hearts that are generous and willing to share with those in need around the world. We ask to be trustworthy channels of the Lord’s resources. May we glorify God by our obedience to the gospel and by our generosity based on its teaching: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (adapted from heartlight website, based on 2 Cor. 8:12)

In many Lutheran churches today, pastors and church councils ask people to think in reference to proportional giving – not in giving a “specific amount”. In other words, we can decide that we are giving “X” amount to the church every week, or month, but as our income increases or decreases, does the “X” change accordingly? When we decide to give according to a percentage of our income, 2%, 3%, 5% or 10%, as our income goes up or down, then the amount changes with it.

Proportional giving encourages us to give thought to our gifts rather than to allow them to become mindless, habitual repetitions.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, let your glory shine through me. Thank you, Lord, for your inexpressible gift, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Dave

March 6, 2023 — “Share Abundantly”

“… and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 8:3

“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5

“May we give ourselves first to you, and then to our brethren. Help us to give of our means, even beyond our means, and of our own free will. May we earnestly desire to relieve the needs of Christians who are poor and whose lives are burdened. Help us not only resolve to do good, but to complete the good we set out to do.” (heartlight website)

You may ask “How does giving willingly and sharing abundantly differ?” To give willingly means that it becomes a priority in our lives to be good givers. We do not need to be reminded to be generous – it is a habit we practice every day. To share abundantly then means that we recognize how much abundance we have, how abundantly we have received good gifts from G-d, and then to be willing to not only part with our abundance, but to do so abundantly. The purpose of all of the gifts we have received from G-d is for the good of the community of G-d – not just for ourselves. Therefore, we give to build up the body of Christ, and we use and share our gifts for the benefit of all.

Abundant sharing and giving is the goal of the Christ-like life. Remember the parable of the “Widow’s Mite”? Jesus says, in essence, that it is not the amount of what we share that is to be the measure of our abundance, it is whether what we choose to share is some measure of our abundance.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, help me to give my all in faith, in utterance, in all earnestness, and in love toward my brothers and sisters. Give me a generous spirit. Amen.

Pastor Dave