Pastor’s Note
Okay, so the economy stinks—at least when it comes to the gas pump, the grocery store, the stock market, and the retail value of our homes (unless you’re buying of course). Saying that the economy stinks, though, is a very, very relative statement. If we were in just about any other part of the world, we would be stunned at the material wealth we enjoy even as the cost of living takes a dramatic turn north.
So how should we look at this recent turn of events? We can get mad, we can blame our government for not getting us to the place of energy independence, we can run up the credit card debt even further. Or…we can look at this as an opportunity for spiritual growth under the kind, providential hand of a Father who still sits on his throne and allows nothing to happen to us that has not been first sifted through his hand.
What do I mean by that? I do not mean that we shouldn’t urge our government to take action where they can to help the economy. That is their role. What I do mean, though, is that God uses every circumstance we face to grow us up in him, to mature us spiritually, to help us treasure him and depend upon him more than ever.
So what lessons might we learn in this difficult economic environment? Well, for one, we like things way too much and God not nearly enough. Sometimes we fill our lives with so much stuff that our hearts are too cluttered to desire God. Maybe this time will be a time of de-cluttering and rediscovery of the one “thing” that really matters and that really satisfies the longings of our hearts.
For another, we trust in things, especially our money market accounts, stock certificates, and 401Ks, way too much and in God not nearly enough. Repeatedly in the Old Testament, God makes it clear that it’s not the horse, the soldier, or the weapon that wins the war but God himself. Maybe this time will be a time of learning to trust again in the One who alone is sovereign over the entire earth.
In this difficult economy, we along with most churches, have fallen significantly behind in our giving for the year (much more than usual). With that in mind, I’ve recently asked our elders and deacons to tighten their belts in order to lead this congregation by example in their own giving. Later in this newsletter, you will see some ways to do that. In the meantime, even if it means de-cluttering and learning to lean more on God, I would ask that you prayerfully consider what you can give. Because God has ordained tithing to train our hearts to desire God and to trust God more than anything or anyone, it will bless your heart and, at the same time, allow us to carry out the ministry well during 2008.