"GIVE GENEROUSLY"
What causes you to give generously to God? What prompts you to open your wallet or write a check to support the work of God through the church?
A crumbling old church building needed remodeling, so, during his sermon, the preacher made an impassioned appeal looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the sermon, the rich man stood up and announced, "Pastor, I will contribute $1,000."
Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood back up and shouted, "Pastor, I will increase my donation to $5,000."
Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, "Pastor, I will double my last pledge." He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell on his head. He stood up once more and hollered, "Pastor, I will give $20,000!"
This prompted a deacon to shout, "Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!"
That's called, "Pressure Giving." Someone gets sick and begins returning tithe, believing his prayers for healing stand a better chance of being heard. Someone else only puts money in the offering plate if the church treats him right. Another gives to the church when business is good, but holds back when business is slow. All these illustrate pressure giving-they give when they feel pressure. Such giving usually does not come from a cheerful heart.
"Remember this-a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, NLT).
It took me a while to replace reluctant giving with cheerful giving. Now I don't need any pressure to give. And I believe most people are put off by pressure tactics. A simple statement of the need and an invitation to give, is all I need to respond.
Let's put that to practice. We need a new church/school sign constructed at the entrance to our property. It will cost an estimated $25,000, which includes a LCD panel to advertise our programs and communicate with those who pass by our site. We have a design picked out. All we need is the money and we will ask the sign company to go ahead with obtaining the permit and begin construction. So far we have received about $5,500. Please place your contribution in an envelope, mark it: "Church Sign," and drop it in the offering plate.
Just think, we can make our contributions with a cheerful heart and not wait for something to fall on our heads to pressure us to give
--Pastor Ivan Blake, October 17, 2007
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