"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 21

Give

Some years ago, we were visiting a brother and his wife when a young boy came to the door selling something that nobody wanted. When the wife refused to buy anything, the boy said wonderingly, “But you’re rich, Lady! You’re rich!”

In his eyes, someone with a house and beautiful yard, a car to drive, food to eat, and nice clothes to wear was rich. By the same token, we may consider ourselves to be poor when we look at someone who has more worldly goods than we do.

God has blessed us with so much love and so many worldly gifts. But He has given all to us as a trust to use for His Kingdom. What He has given must be used for His Church, to tell others the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

There are so many needs and so many ways to give:

Give to support missions through your congregation, district, and LCMS World Mission.

Find out from your church leaders where and how your congregation is working to spread the Gospel. Get involved yourself to give of your gifts.

Go to the Texas District web site (http://www.txdistlcms.org/) to discover what missions are being supported by the district, what new congregations need help, what ethnic or inner city churches would appreciate time and money given in joy.

Go The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod web site (http://www.lcms.org/) and from there to the Board of Missions to see how you can give time, energy, and treasures to outreach efforts around the world. A list of giving opportunities can be found on the Mission & Ministry Giving Catalog.

Some places to give might include:

Concordia University System (for training pastors, teachers, ministers of music, directors of Christian Education and the like).

District & Congregational Services, which includes Children's Ministry, School Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Joint Seminary, helping those entities in their efforts to be of service to districts and congregations through these agencies.

LCMS World Mission

LCMS World Mission Ablaze!

LCMS World Relief and Human Care

Ministry to the Armed Forces

Discover your own way to give: determine the amount you want to use for God’s Kingdom in time, effort, and gifts. Read about the needs. Listen to the people who sit in darkness and hear their cry. Pray about how to give. Then give in whatever way you can to heed God’s heart for the lost. You will only be giving back to God what is already His.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they 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” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Tell someone today of God’s love. Don’t wait. Tomorrow may be too late.

Pray: Lord Jesus, You died for our sins. Forgive us for our selfishness and for wanting to keep all things for ourselves. Forgive us for not seeing the need–indeed, closing our eyes to those who suffer, closing our ears to the cries of those who sit in the mire and muck of sin. Empower us by Your Spirit to heed those calls, to wipe away the tears through our giving and our gifts, to tell of Your great love to those who hunger and thirst for it. Love others through us, Jesus. In Your name we pray. Amen.