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Whose
Is It . . . Anyway? |
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Burr . . . nothing like an
invigorating January in Minnesota! In today's epistle, we want to share a fun
story that illustrates a key principle of Biblical stewardship. |
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Mrs. Barbara
Anderson was the wealthiest widow in the small Midwestern town of
Anderapolis. After many years of marriage, her husband had passed leaving her
alone but wealthy, living in an expansive mansion atop a hill overlooking
town. She attended church occasionally, although she never became a member or
committed financially to the ministry. When the offering was taken, she would
proudly put her $100 check in, but that was the extent of her giving.
Occasionally when the church would raise funds for a major ministry
initiative, she would reluctantly give $1,000 out of a self-imposed sense of
obligation, and be proud of herself for doing so. |
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Late in
life, at 77, the Lord called her home. Her estate, now worth millions, was
all bestowed to far-flung family that she wasn't close to and who didn't have
need of it. |
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When she
arrived in heaven, St. Peter greeted her at the pearly gates to escort her to
her new home. They walked past mansions, which were fitting for someone of
her stature. She was shocked to see a deceased church member of much more
modest means but very generous heart living in one of them! On they walked
together, past increasingly more modest abodes, and finally down a gravel
road to a clean, sturdy, but barren shack that was comfortable but unfinished
on the inside. Barbara was indignant! How could God have me live for eternity
like this!?! St. Peter gently replied, "This is the best we could do
with what you sent up." |
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Amusing - yes. Theologically
limited - definitely (i.e. - the amount given isn't nearly as important to
God as giving proportionally from our blessings). Nontheless, this tale
reminds us (among other things) that everything we have is ultimately from
Him and - as Christians - our primary concern in life is about building His
kingdom. Yet the unrelenting pull of the culture is to view all that we have
as ours of which we'll share up to 10 percent (tithe) for the work of God.
But the Bible is clear and counter-cultural. All that we have comes from and
is God's of which He requests that we give back only one-tenth (or
more as we are led and able). |
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God could go it alone and build
His kingdom without us. But where's the love, the relationship, and the
spiritual growth in that? Instead, He desires to enlist us as co-laborers and
as partners primarily through the ministry of the church to shape the earth
as it is in heaven. What a privilege! What a joy! The God of the Universe
loves you and is simply requesting that you offer back to Him a modest
portion of His blessing to you. |
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Can you hear His whisper? Can
you see a vision for the future of His kingdom here? Can you feel His hand
intertwined with yours? Can you smell the sweet aroma of His embrace and love?
Can you say from a thankful and sincere heart, "yes Lord!?" |
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The Stewardship Commission |
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