by David Burka
As a father cares for his children, so God cares for us. When I think about the things our Heavenly Father does for us individually and the things He does for us as a church family, it just amazes me. I know that He can bless us more than we can imagine if we just let Him.
One of the most enjoyable things to do with a child is to get in the floor and roll a ball back and forth. The only problem is that if the child has his hands full, he can't play the game. He is restricted if he chooses to hold onto something else. If he chooses to participate, he has so much fun. The father who plays with the child knows they will enjoy this activity, and so he encourages him to put aside distractions.
That's a simple analogy of the way I see Christian giving. I have to be willing to lay down my "toys", my favorite things, so I can have open arms to receive God's blessings. My Father knows I'll enjoy the activity He's inviting me to do. The things I have are what He has given me, but sometimes I stubbornly hold on to them as if I could take them with me to heaven. Once I lay them aside, I can open my hands to the better things He has in mind for me and truly I will be blessed. Jesus said in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Instead of holding onto our worldly goods, we can share them in a way that will glorify God. We teach our children to share, and God teaches us to do the same. In 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Paul tells Timothy what to teach new Christians: "Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Through Paul, the Holy Spirit says for us to be ready to give, willing to share, and we will have eternal life. This past Sunday we opened our hearts and hands to what Our Father wants us to do. We shared what we have with each other and those in need around us. We gave Him the things we've been holding on to. At the time of this printing, the total of the contribution is $92,604.33. It is a rich blessing to be a part of a congregation that is open to His will and seeking to share in this way. Our Father has many wonderful things in store for us.