Weekend Message/Devotion
Mark 12:38-44
November 11, 2018
True Giving
Have you given thought – I mean deep thought to what true giving – sacrificial giving really means?
A member of our church was murdered on October 30, 2018. He gave his life. The murder made international news in many circles, mostly Christian related. You see CHARLES WESCO was a missionary in Cameroon. He was shot in a terrorist attack on his way to do some shopping for his wife and eight children.
I never met Charles Wesco and never heard of him prior to reading this article: https://churchleaders.com/news/336729-american-missionary-father-8-killed-cameroon.html.
But pastor, you opened by saying a “member” of our church. And indeed, he was. EVERY Christian is a member of our church for there is but ONE church. Charles gave his life in service to the Lord and the church.
So, what is our reaction? We can and should pray for his family and the fellowship that sent him to Cameroon, for their loss is felt much stronger than ours. He was a member of “Believers Baptist Church” in Warsaw, Indiana. We should put just as much emphasis in praying for those responsible for his death. We shall be praying for God’s justice to prevail. As always, our prayers must be sincere! It is NOT about US and it is NOT about OUR church. It is about OUR LORD and HIS CHURCH!
Read closely in today’s gospel verses 41-44:
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”’
Are we starting to understand what Jesus is saying here?
Right here in our own small fellowship, a very good example comes to mind. One of our most dedicated and faithful, totaled out her car the other day. She was beside herself because though the insurance paid off the loan, there was nothing left to buy a replacement car. Her attitude was not “woe is me” her attitude was: this is a gift from God. Her employer advanced her sufficient money to purchase a used car that did need some repairs, but she was relieved that she was no longer facing car payments. Throughout all of this financial stress, her tithes were never affected, she remains faithful in her giving (now quite sacrificially).
Are we starting to understand what Jesus is saying yet?
I have a very vivid memory of overhearing a conversation of a very close relative very early in my childhood. Every week a small offering was placed in an envelope for his children to place in the offering plate. He did not attend church. In that conversation, he stated: “If everyone in the church gave as much every week as I do, they wouldn’t have any money problems.” Even as a small child, I was embarrassed for him. Obviously, his thoughts were a form of self- aggrandizement and how could he, not a church goer have any idea what the church treasury looked like?
Are we starting to understand what Jesus is saying yet?
We cannot realize blessings, mercy and grace unless we have also known hardship, pain and sacrifice.
Let us pray.
I humbly and sincerely ask for your prayers!
https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/311609-how-to-pray-for-your-pastor-ronnie-floyd.html?utm_source=outreach-cl-daily-nl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read-more&utm_campaign=cl-daily-nl&maropost_id=&mpweb=256-7370272
