A
new year will begin at 12:00 a.m. tonight. Everyone will be
celebrating that momentous occasion! There will be fireworks,
lights, singing, dancing, laughing, drinking, eating, and
predicting. Many will make new year resolutions. They will commit to
eat better, exercise more, be more conscientious about
everything...but unfortunately, most will not last more than a few
weeks fulfilling those commitments. Most will in fact, begin with
great intentions, only to succumb to old ways as the days go by. I
have been working on the church books of late. I have been tallying
donations during 2007, in order to send out tax deduction records to
each who gave. As I have been working on the numbers, I discovered
what I have come to know through out the past twenty years of full
time ministry work. About 20% of those involved at Covenant LIFE,
give approximately 80% of all the gifts. That means 80% of the body
of Covenant LIFE give about 20% of the gifts. Some in the body may
not give at all. Why would anyone not give? In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7,
the apostle, Paul wrote, "But I say: He who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
Perhaps one would not give, because they didn't want to. It is
understandable. Maybe they've never purposed in their hearts to
give. Perhaps a person who doesn't give, is not a believer in
giving. Maybe they feel they have nothing to offer? They could be so
strapped financially, they feel they need the body giving to them!
In part, that's a scriptural principle. In 2 Corinthians 9:12, it
says, "For the administration of this service not only supplies
the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many
thanksgivings to God." The needs of the saints can be met
through the thanksgiving (gifts) of those who have been blessed!
Paul was blessed with a gift from the Philippians in Philippians
4:15-20. He described needing help as he ministered, and only the
Philippians responded! Paul also revealed that "God would
supply all THEIR needs according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus"! But realize, Paul gave MUCH MORE than he ever
took...that was how he lived. When I give to the church, I am giving
to God, even though I place it in the hands of man. I don't give so
others will know. I give to show my thankfulness to the Father for
giving me so much! I give to help spread the Father's love. Many
times I feel urged by the Spirit to give secret gifts. Gifts that
bless someone, without them knowing who gave it. Some people like to
give cash gifts...they don't want anyone to know what they have
given, thereby avoiding the temptation of pride. Under the new
covenant, we see a pattern of giving in the church. It is giving
liberally. It is giving with no strings attached. It is giving to
help one another...to help the church! As it says in Acts,
"they had all things in common, and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided it among all, as anyone had need" (Acts
2:44-45). That kind of giving gets personal real fast! It requires
sacrifice...self denial. It is a heart of giving solicited by the
Holy Spirit. It is giving which is solicited not by LAW...but by
LOVE! I don't believe God is interested in how much you put in the
offering box! He is interested in your heart! He wants people to
give with cheerful hearts! He wants us to give with an attitude of
gratitude! He is concerned with your motivation for giving.
Why should we give? To help others in need. To be a blessing. To
show our thankfulness. To follow Christ's example. To be aligned
with scripture. To help put forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Why
should we not give? To be seen of men. Just to get a tax credit. To
make ourselves feel better. Just out of legality. To get. We
know that we will receive when we give..."sow bountifully, reap
bountifully! But that must not be our motivation! We must not give
just so we will receive...we must give freely, because we have
received freely! We must share what God has given us! It's a life
principle at work! Giving was a lifestyle for Jesus! He went around
doing good. He healed the sick. He opened blind eyes. He caused the
dead to rise. He gave His very LIFE for us! It seems we have been
talking about money this entire time...we haven't! We've been
discussing YOU! God is looking at YOU as the gift! YOU! Our money is
only a small indicator of hearts! The Bible states in Luke 12:34,
"Wherever your treasure is, there your HEART will be
also." If your treasure is money, and material things, it will
be obvious. If your treasure is in God's work, and His eternal
Kingdom, it will be very evident as well! Forget the 80/20 portion
of this letter! Don't fret yourself about the total dollar amount
you have given in '07! Forget about any amounts in relation to your
giving! The question is...HAVE you been giving? If you haven't, you
are missing a HUGE BLESSING of the Christian life! My wife and I
have agreed to believe that 2008 will be the year we give more than
we ever have before. Why you might ask? Because, in giving we
connect with the very Father heart of God! We receive joy in giving!
We get to do something that blesses Him, and others! Ultimately, we
want to be givers because we have been receivers. We want to share
the blessings God has given us. We want to follow in the footsteps
of Jesus. We want our lives to be about giving...but not just our
money...EVERYTHING! Our finances are only a small portion of what
God has given us to be stewards or caretakers of. On the other hand,
He has given us what money could never buy...He has given us time.
He has given us that time to give to others...for others. He has
given us talents. Talents should not be hidden...they should be
shared in such a way as to glorify God! He has given us spiritual
gifts! We should be aware of what they are, and use them when the
Holy Spirit prompts us. He has given us HIMSELF! We should
thankfully acknowledge this fact above all else. We should pray for
opportunities to give HIM to others! We should be concerned about
how we share HIM everyday! If you are thinking of making a new year
resolution...STOP! Don't just make some type of resolution that is
self-serving, and/or preserving. Make a commitment that will be a
gift to others. Make a commitment to offer your life a better living
sacrifice to Christ in 2008! Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal TRUE
TREASURE in your life. Pray for more of everything good, so you can
share more of it with more people! Resolve to be a better giver of
ALL that has been given to you by the Father. Seek not a wealth of
riches, but rather, seek the riches of His wealth!
Your
Partner In Ministry,
Greg McCowen
Covenant Life Fellowship - Lubbock
Church - (806) 771-4244
